The Vancouver Canucks' Fate in 2025-26 Hinges on GM Patrik Allvin's Questionable Decision
Photo credit: Bob Frid - USA TODAY Sports
The Vancouver Canucks having success during the 2025-26 season is very dependent on the questionable decsion to not make any trades before the year begins, which in turn has them relying on young players to step-up and fill the gaps.
Last season was a disappointing one for the Vancouver Canucks as they missed out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs due to a number of factors including inconsistent play, injuries and several of their big stars having a down year, including Elias Pettersson.
Vancouver finished 24th in the National Hockey League in goals for last season, putting up 236 in 82 games, with Jake DeBrusk leading the way in his first year as a Canuck, accounting for 28 of the team's total, followed by Brock Boeser and Pius Suter, who had 25 each.
If the Vancouver Canucks are going to have any success this season, they need to find a way to put the puck in the back of the net more often, as averaging 2.8 per game isn't going to cut it and it's going to take all four lines to help drive the offense.
Vancouver Canucks need young forwards to have career years in 2025-26
On Monday's edition of Sekeres and Price, the two talked about the team's goal scoring issues last season and both agreed that one way that the Canucks can jump from 24th in goals for last season to a higher position this time around is by having their young guys step up.
Sekeres and Price mention Finnish forward Aatu Raty as someone that's due for a breakout year for the Canucks, while Nils Hoglander is in need of a bounce back as he enters the first year of a three-year contract after registering just eight goals last season.
"If this is in fact the team and there's no additions from this point forward, it probably means having to win a lot of 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 low scoring defensive minded hockey games and playing to the club's strengths." Price said.
Sekeres added, "That's the way it looks. They could, here's the one way score a decent amount of goals, they're not going to be a league leader, but here's the way they score, is that people down the lineup surprise you and have some breakout years, career years, like an Aatu Raty for instance. Like any of the other Abbotsford guys that are on this team. Guys like Hoglander bounce back. There could be a bump in goals there that sorta overcomes what you see on paper and are unimpressed by on paper."
Sekeres added, "That's the way it looks. They could, here's the one way score a decent amount of goals, they're not going to be a league leader, but here's the way they score, is that people down the lineup surprise you and have some breakout years, career years, like an Aatu Raty for instance. Like any of the other Abbotsford guys that are on this team. Guys like Hoglander bounce back. There could be a bump in goals there that sorta overcomes what you see on paper and are unimpressed by on paper."
If the Vancouver Canucks get a bounce back year from Nils Hoglander, maybe not the 24 goals he had two seasons ago, but in the 15-20 range, along with a breakout year from Aatu Raty, also in the sphere of 15 goals, it would certainly go a long way in helping the club get out of the basement in the goal scoring department.
Aside from those two, the Canucks are going to need more from Elias Pettersson and their big names as well and even though he had 25 last season, which is certainly good, Brock Boeser needs to get above 30 goals this year, especially after locking him up to a seven-year deal worth $7.25 million annually on July 1st.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 26 | 1061 ANSWERS The Vancouver Canucks' Fate in 2025-26 Hinges on GM Patrik Allvin's Questionable Decision Which young Vancouver Canucks forward do you think will score the most goals for the club this season? | ||
| Aatu Raty | 326 | 30.7 % |
| Nils Hoglander | 735 | 69.3 % |
| List of polls | ||