4 bright spots for the Vancouver Canucks this season

The Vancouver Canucks managed to avoid matching their franchise record for the longest losing streak.

That record sits at 11 games, set by the 2025-26 Canucks last January. On Tuesday, the Canucks halted their losing streak at 10 games with a remarkable third-period comeback against the Anaheim Ducks.

It was a thrilling game and a much-needed morale boost for the Canucks. They badly needed that win, because a lot has gone wrong for the Canucks early in the season, from the dire lack of shots on goal to the abominably dreadful penalty kill.

But that doesn’t mean it’s been all bad.

Heck, Elias Pettersson has found his power-play one-timer again and is scoring at a 90-point pace, news that would have gasted every flabber in the Canucks fanbase if you’d have told them that ahead of the season.

Here are four other bright spots to sunny up your disposition.

1. Youth finding their games

Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images

Even as the Canucks as a whole have struggled, a few young players are proving they belong in the NHL.

Jonathan Lekkerimäki looks legit, as he’s leading the Canucks in goals and is second in points.

Defenceman Elias Pettersson is playing big minutes in the Canucks’ top four and leads all Canucks in corsi percentage, while also popping in a few goals.

Linus Karlsson, though pushing the definition of “youth” at 26 years old, is fifth in Canucks scoring with nine points.

Even Zeev Buium is bouncing back from some early-season struggles and is finally starting to look like the dynamic defenceman the Canucks are hoping he can become.

2. Abbotsford Canucks are heating up

@AbbyCanucks/X

The best indicator for the future success of the Vancouver Canucks has little to do with the players currently in the NHL, only a few of whom will likely still be with the Canucks the next time they make the playoffs.

Instead, maybe fans should look to the performance of the Canucks’ AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks.

While their parent affiliate was on an ugly losing streak, Abbotsford went on a five-game winning streak and has moved to the top of the Pacific Division.

Along the way, they’re getting strong performances from Canucks prospects like Braeden Cootes, Riley Patterson, and Ty Mueller. They’ve also gotten an infusion of offence from 24-year-old Jacob Quillan, who is on a four-game point streak since the Canucks acquired him in the Aatu Räty trade, including a hat trick in his last game.

3. Prospects performing well outside of the pros

@Canucks/X

While the present looks pretty dire for the Canucks right now, the future is looking bright.

Adam Novotný has been superb in the OHL, Anthony Romani has been lights out in the NCAA, and Caleb Malhotra has earned rave reviews at Boston University.

Other Canucks prospects shouldn’t be overlooked, either. Lucian Bernat is a point-per-game in his rookie season in the OHL. Connor Davis has four points in five games in his freshman season in the NCAA. Aiden Celebrini is on the top pairing for Boston University and playing some of the best hockey of his career.

The Canucks’ prospects are providing some reasons for optimism right now.

4. They’re on the right path to Landon DuPont

Michigan Hockey/Facebook

The biggest thing the Canucks need for their rebuild is elite talent, and the best way to get that is to pick high in the NHL Draft.

That’s particularly true in the 2027 draft, as the projected first-overall pick is a potentially elite number-one defenceman in Landon DuPont.

With a 3-10-1 record, the Canucks sit in last place in the NHL, on pace for a woeful 42 points this season and, most importantly, the best odds in the draft lottery.

While finishing in last place doesn’t guarantee the first-overall pick — as Canucks fans are well aware of — it at least ensures the Canucks won’t pick any later than third overall. Even if they can’t get DuPoint, there will be elite players available, like Sergei Skvortsov, Jonah Neuenschwander, Nazar Privalov, Milan Sundström, and Dima Zhilkin.