Canucks are looking to add more players that come from Canada
The Vancouver Canucks are perhaps the least Canadian team in the NHL. In fact, just three Canadian players have played in at least 30 games for them this season.
The three are Jake DeBrusk (Edmonton, Alta.), Evander Kane (Vancouver, B.C.), and Tyler Myers (Calgary, Alta.), but Myers and Kane are expected to be traded soon. And DeBrusk might soon be gone as well.
Pierre-Olivier Joseph (Laval, Que.), who has suited up for just 22 games this season, is on the active roster. Arshdeep Bains (Surrey, B.C.) has played 28 games, but is currently in the AHL, while Braeden Cootes (Sherwood Park, Alta.) played three games before being sent back to the WHL.
The Canucks, along with the Minnesota Wild, have the fewest number of players with Canadian nationality (per NHL.com) when looking at skaters with at least 30 games played or goalies with at least 10 games.
The Vegas Golden Knights lead the league with 16, followed by the Seattle Kraken (13), Edmonton Oilers (12), and Montreal Canadiens (12).
Not a lot of Canadian players have played for the Canucks this season (NHL.com)
“We would love to have more Canadian players,” Jim Rutherford admitted on the 100% Hockey podcast.
The Canucks president of hockey operations certainly didn’t go full Don Cherry in his comments, and he did qualify it by saying he would take a player from anywhere in the world as long as they can contribute.
That’s true with fans as well.
The most beloved players in franchise history are Swedish, in Henrik and Daniel Sedin. There is also no shortage of players from Canada who have suited up for the Canucks over the years that fans despised.
Fans also had no trouble embracing American players in recent years, like Quinn Hughes and J.T. Miller.
All-time scoring leaders in Canucks history by Canadian players (NHL.com)
But there does seem to be a recognition from Rutherford that, in general, the team isn’t Canadian enough.
“I don’t care where the player comes from,” Rutherford told hosts John Shannon and Daren Millard. “If there’s a player, from whatever country in the world, [who] can come and contribute to the Vancouver Canucks, we’re going after that player. [But] at this point in time, when I look at our team, I’d like to see us have more Canadian players on it.”
When it comes to attracting free agents, Rutherford pointed out a trend of players wanting to play in the United States. Perhaps that’s due to lower income taxes or less scrutiny from fans and media. But they may have an inside track on players from Western Canada and Europe.
“The players that like to play in Vancouver are players — I wouldn’t say all Canadian players, I would say more players from Western Canada or from British Columbia have expressed interest in being here. And the European players like Vancouver. I think Vancouver reminds them a little bit of home, some of the European cities.”
“There are players that want to come to Vancouver. They like the organization, we treat players extremely well here. They like the passion of the market, and they like the city.”