The Vancouver Canucks have emerged from their offseason slumber. From Vasily Podkolzin getting traded to the Edmonton Oilers and Quinn Hughes being named as a canopy athlete for NHL 25 to Thatcher Demko lacking coaching camp and the preseason and NHL Community’s positional rankings, we have now loads of issues to debate. With that mentioned, let’s dive into the primary Canucks’ 3 Up, 3 Down of the season.
Plus One: Jack, Luke & Quinn Hughes Named Cowl Athletes For NHL 25
For the primary time in EA Sports activities historical past, three gamers will grace the quilt of the NHL online game collection because it was introduced final week that brothers Jack, Luke, and Quinn Hughes can be cowl athletes for NHL 25. Often, it’s just one or two gamers which can be bestowed the honour, however EA determined to be totally different this 12 months.
Associated: 4 Younger Gamers the Canucks Gave Up on Too Quickly
The three brothers are rising stars within the NHL. Jack and Quinn have already established themselves as cornerstones of the Devils and Canucks respectively, and Luke had a promising rookie season with 9 objectives and 47 factors in 82 video games. Whereas Jack didn’t burst onto the scene straight away after being drafted first general in 2019, he has come into his personal over the previous few seasons. His popping out occasion got here in 2022-23 when he scored 43 objectives and 99 factors in 78 video games, and regardless of accidents that saved him on the sidelines for 20 video games final season, he nonetheless scored 27 objectives and 74 factors.
As for Quinn, he has been a revelation for the Canucks since making his debut on the finish of 2018-19. Since his first full season in 2019-20, he has by no means fallen under 41 factors and already has 4 50-plus level campaigns, culminating in a career-high 17 objectives and 92 factors final season when he gained the Norris Trophy. He’ll turn into the Canucks’ all-time level chief amongst defencemen this season – and he’ll do it at solely 25 years previous.
All in all, the Hughes brothers are right here to remain and may need already joined the ranks of the Hulls, Sutters, and Staals as iconic households in NHL historical past.
Minus One: Thatcher Demko Anticipated to Miss Coaching Camp & Preseason
Thatcher Demko was reportedly going to be prepared for the Western Convention Last if the Canucks had gained Sport 7 towards the Edmonton Oilers. However given the current information from insider Rick Dhaliwal, except he re-injured one thing or had surgical procedure within the offseason, he was nonetheless miles away from returning to the lineup.
Demko was wholesome for many of final season till he injured his knee towards the Winnipeg Jets on March 9. He returned for the ultimate two video games of the common season and Sport 1 of the playoffs towards the Nashville Predators however wasn’t seen for Sport 2 and past. He’s now anticipated to overlook coaching camp and the preseason with even opening evening being a query mark. The Canucks at the moment are looking out the goaltending marketplace for choices to pair with rookie Arturs Silovs ought to the ailment hold him out for longer than a number of video games.
Silovs must be prepared for the problem of being the primary. He began each recreation within the playoffs after Casey DeSmith went down in Sport 2 and regarded good posting a 2.91 goals-against common (GAA), .898 save proportion (SV%) and a shutout. Nonetheless, the Canucks are nonetheless a greater group with Demko within the crease. He’s a bonified Vezina Trophy-caliber goaltender, so hopefully this harm doesn’t hold him out too lengthy and he can return 100% wholesome with out having any extra setbacks in the course of the season.
Plus Two: Elias Pettersson, JT Miller & Thatcher Demko Land on NHL Prime Participant Lists
The NHL Community has been releasing prime participant lists for various positions for the reason that center of August and so they simply printed their prime 20 facilities with JT Miller and Elias Pettersson making the lower at eleventh and tenth respectively. It’s no shock Miller landed simply outdoors the highest 10 with the season he simply had. He joined the century membership in 2023-24 along with his first 100-point season posting 37 objectives and 103 factors in 81 video games, and now has 143 objectives and 402 factors in a Canucks uniform. Since coming over from the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019-20, he has turn into among the best facilities within the NHL and is rightfully being acknowledged as such after getting snubbed final 12 months.
Pettersson, alternatively, stayed at tenth even after struggling to supply following his monster January the place he scored 14 objectives and 21 factors in 13 video games. Most of his factors got here within the first half of the season as he solely put up seven objectives and 25 factors in his remaining 33 video games. He nonetheless completed with 34 objectives and 89 factors however did not repeat the dominance he confirmed in 2022-23 when he had his personal 100-point season with 39 objectives and 102 factors in 80 video games. He’s undoubtedly nonetheless an elite heart within the NHL, however I’d personally put Miller forward of him after the occasions of 2023-24.
Within the first a part of the collection, they ranked the highest 10 goalies for 2024-25 and Demko was sixth behind Ilya Sorokin, Jeremy Swayman, Andrei Vasilevskiy, Connor Hellebuyck, and Igor Shesterkin. I really feel that’s a spot or two too low as he deserves to be forward of Sorokin who was mediocre final season and misplaced his job to Semyon Varlamov, and probably even Swayman who hasn’t been a major starter but in his profession. So, that might place him fourth, only one spot under the place THW’s personal Rupert McDonald ranked him.
Minus Two: Brock Boeser Snubbed From Prime 20 Winger Checklist
NHL Community additionally launched their prime 20 wingers checklist and no Canucks have been featured, not even 40-goal man Brock Boeser. Wanting on the checklist, eight of the highest 20 didn’t eclipse 40 objectives, and there have been even some that didn’t hit 30. Mitch Marner, for instance, solely scored 26 objectives and he was ranked tenth. What does Boeser must do to get some recognition across the league? Rating 50? Regardless, he would be the group’s prime winger once more this season and can possible rating 30 or extra objectives. Canucks Nation is aware of how useful the Brockstar is, even when NHL Community’s “consultants” haven’t taken discover but.
Plus Three: Ice Goes In at Rogers Area & New Brand Appears to be like Superb
Hockey is sort of again in Vancouver because the ice in Rogers Area was put in on Friday. It additionally got here with a shock re-design of the centre ice brand. I’m positive many followers have been hoping it could be the flying skate as an alternative – me included – however this nonetheless appears clear and sharp, and a lot better than the earlier model.
The Canucks’ house opener is ready for Oct. 9 towards the Calgary Flames which would be the first of a two-game homestand that may even see the Philadelphia Flyers come to city. They may then embark on a four-game highway journey towards the Steven Stamkos-less Tampa Bay Lightning, defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the Flyers once more, and eventually Ilya Mikheyev and the Chicago Blackhawks. Their subsequent bout at Rogers Area can be on Oct. 26 when Sidney Crosby involves Vancouver for the beginning of a three-game homestand.
Minus Three: Vasily Podkolzin Traded to the Oilers For Low Return
Our remaining minus of the week comes from the second commerce basic supervisor Patrik Allvin has made this offseason. In a little bit of a shocking transfer, he despatched Podkolzin to the Oilers for under a fourth-round decide in 2025. Many followers have been shocked by the return he bought for the tenth general decide in 2019, however insiders like Dhaliwal weren’t, saying that the Canucks couldn’t afford to attend round for him to turn into an on a regular basis participant. Contemplating he was going to possible be claimed on waivers after not making the group out of coaching camp, they weren’t going to get something greater than a fourth-rounder for him.
As I mentioned in a earlier article, I don’t just like the return or the actual fact they traded him within the first place. The Canucks may have saved a spot open on the roster to compete for by not signing so many forwards in free company. Whereas I just like the additions, I believe Podkolzin may have been a useful a part of the bottom-six and may need thrived in that position. However now we are going to by no means know.
Regardless that the Oilers are a division rival, I want Podkolzin all the most effective within the subsequent stage of his hockey journey.
Hockey Is Simply Across the Nook, Subsequent Cease Penticton!
As we enter the ultimate week of August, the Younger Stars match in Penticton is just a few weeks away. All of it will get began on Sept. 13 on the South Okanagan Occasions Centre with the Canucks taking over the Oilers at 7:30. Coaching camp is then just a few days later, additionally in Penticton, Sept. 19-22. The canine days of summer time are virtually over Canucks followers, let’s drop the puck!
