2025-26
Record: 25-49-8, 58 points, 8th in Pacific Division
Playoffs: Missed Stanley Cup Playoffs
Key Losses
Head Coach – Adam Foote (Fired), GM – Patrik Allvin (Fired), F – Evander Kane (Free Agency), F – Nils Höglander (Trade w/ NAS), F – Teddy Blueger (TOR), D – Marcus Pettersson (Trade w/ NYR)
Key Additions
GM – Ryan Johnson (Hired), Co-Presidents of Hockey Ops – Henrik and Daniel Sedin (Hired), Head Coach – Manny Malhotra (Hired), F – Brendan Gallagher (Trade w/ MON), F – Paul Cotter (Signed via FA), D – Luke Schenn (Signed via FA), D – Jamie Oleksiak (Signed via FA)
2026-27 Preview
Hitting the Reset Button
For the Vancouver Canucks, the 2026 offseason marked another reset for an organization searching for a new direction. The Canucks parted ways with both head coach Adam Foote and general manager Patrik Allvin, replacing them with Manny Malhotra behind the bench and Ryan Johnson in the front office.
With new leadership in place, the Canucks quickly began reshaping their roster. Vancouver traded Nils Höglander to the Nashville Predators and Marcus Pettersson to the New York Rangers, while Evander Kane and Teddy Blueger departed in free agency. These moves signaled that the organization was ready to move on from several pieces that had been part of its recent core and begin building toward a different future.
The Canucks also added veteran experience and physicality. Brendan Gallagher was brought in to provide leadership and a strong veteran presence, while defensemen Luke Schenn and Jamie Oleksiak were added to strengthen the blue line. Both Schenn and Oleksiak bring size, toughness, and experience that should make Vancouver a more difficult team to play against.
While the Canucks may not be viewed as a legitimate playoff contender entering the 2026-27 season, this year is about establishing a new foundation. Malhotra and Johnson will have an opportunity to put their stamp on the organization, evaluate the current roster, and determine which players fit into the team’s long-term plans.
For Vancouver, the 2026-27 season may be more about progress than playoff positioning. It is the beginning of a new chapter, and the decisions made over the course of this season could ultimately determine the direction of the franchise for years to come.
What do the Canucks do with Pettersson?
Another season, another year of questions surrounding Elias Pettersson. For the second consecutive season, Pettersson recorded just 15 goals while contributing more than 30 assists, but his overall performance continued to fall well short of expectations. His -30 plus/minus rating only added to the concerns surrounding his game.
Pettersson is entering the third year of his eight-year contract, and the Canucks need to see significantly more from their star forward. Given the size and length of his deal, Vancouver is counting on Pettersson to be a cornerstone of the franchise, not a player whose future with the team is constantly being questioned.
The arrival of new head coach Manny Malhotra could provide Pettersson with an opportunity for a fresh start. Malhotra will have the challenge of finding a way to unlock the talent that made Pettersson one of Vancouver’s most promising players and get him back to being the dynamic offensive threat the organization envisioned when he signed his long-term contract.
The question now is whether Malhotra can help Pettersson rediscover that form—or whether the 2026-27 season ultimately becomes the beginning of the end of Pettersson’s time in Vancouver.
Projected Lineup
Offense
Jake DeBrusk — Elias Pettersson — Linus Karlsson
Liam Ohgren — Marco Rossi — Brock Boeser
Drew O’Connor — Filip Chytil — Jonathan Lekkerimaki
Paul Cotter — Aatu Raty — Brendan Gallagher
Defense
Zeev Buium — Filip Hronek
Jamie Oleksiak — Tom Willander
Elias Nils Pettersson — Luke Schenn
Goalies
Thatcher Demko
Kevin Lankinen