7 Vancouver Canucks facing the most pressure heading into this season
Could this season be a massive turning point in Vancouver Canucks history?
The Canucks’ core is firmly in their prime. They’re in charge of the locker room now, since New York Rangers captain J.T. Miller is gone.
But the pressure to win is ratcheting up, considering it will likely take playoff success to retain Quinn Hughes.
Oh, and they have a head coach at the helm who has never held that role in pro hockey before.
Welcome to hockey in Vancouver.
Speaking of pressure, here are seven people in the Canucks organization who should be feeling it most entering the 55th season in franchise history.
1. Elias Pettersson
Is there any NHL player facing as much pressure as Elias Pettersson?
Before signing his eight-year, $92.8-million contract extension on March 3, 2024, Pettersson had 398 points in 387 career NHL games. His 1.03 points-per-game over that span ranked 20th league-wide.
Since then, the 26-year-old has registered 20 goals and 59 points in 84 games. Pettersson’s 0.70 points-per-game mark over that span ties him for 117th overall in the NHL with Montreal Canadiens youngster Juraj Slafkovsky.
The Canucks’ fifth overall pick in the 2017 draft has the eighth-highest salary cap hit in the league entering the 2025-26 NHL season.
2. Patrik Allvin
Patrik Allvin is entering his fourth full season as general manager of the Canucks. Seventeen other NHL teams have hired new general managers since Allvin took over in January of 2022.
After the Canucks finished last season as one of the league’s most disappointing teams, there should be pressure on Allvin to make sure he steers the Canucks in the right direction this season. Or else, changes could be coming.
The Canucks’ assistant general manager, Ryan Johnson, is reportedly being eyed by other NHL teams. He could be an in-house replacement if this season goes off the rails.
3. Thatcher Demko
Injuries prevented Thatcher Demko from repeating his 2023-24 success, where he was runner-up to Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for the Vezina Trophy.
Demko played just 23 games last season, winning only 10 of them. His .889 save percentage was the worst mark of his career.
The Canucks still showed faith in Demko by awarding him with a three-year contract extension worth $8.5 million per season, which starts in 2026-27. It’s now on Demko to prove that the injury issues are behind him and that he can rediscover his Vezina form.
4. Filip Chytil
Jim Rutherford said last April that there’s no replacing the departed Miller.
While that’s stating the obvious, Filip Chytil is the guy who has taken over Miller’s role as a top-six centre for the Canucks.
Chytil flashed his speed and ability to create scoring chances last season, before his fifth-career concussion ended his Canucks debut after just 15 games. While he has breakout potential, Chytil has never registered more than 22 goals or 45 points in one NHL season. Considering that he’s in a top-six role, he’ll be counted on to produce more than that.
5. Brock Boeser
No contract, no drama, no problem, right?
The Canucks surprised everyone by re-signing Brock Boeser to a seven-year extension on the first day of NHL free agency. Even though he has contract certainty, there’s pressure on him to deliver offensively, considering that he’s the Canucks top winger, at least on paper.
Boeser is one year removed from a campaign in which he posted 40 goals and 73 points, both career bests. Aside from that, he’s performed below expectations in three of the last four seasons, including last season, when he registered 25 goals and 50 points.
6. Nils Höglander
Nils Höglander has yo-yoed up and down the Canucks lineup under three different head coaches: Travis Green, Bruce Boudreau and Rick Tocchet.
Will things be any different under Adam Foote?
Höglander has shown the potential to be a top-six winger, but he just hasn’t delivered consistently. That includes last season, where he posted just eight goals and 25 points.
The 24-year-old is now playing on a contract that will pay him $3 million per season for the next three years. If he can provide top-six offence, that contract will be a steal. But Höglander has to prove himself worthy of an increased role yet again under a new coaching staff.
7. Adam Foote
Considering the stakes of his upcoming season, there’s a lot of pressure on Foote. That’s especially true considering that the 54-year-old has never been a head coach in pro hockey.
The Canucks are banking on the fact that his familiarity with the team should allow the team to get off on the right foot… pun intended.
If they don’t, could Foote be the scapegoat?
Former Canucks coaches such as Boudreau and John Tortorella have been canned in short order. Foote could be at risk of the same if the Canucks have another season like 2024-25, especially when they have an up-and-coming head coach like Manny Malhotra in their organization.