Canucks' Paul Cotter is keeping receipts from the haters
The Vancouver Canucks are relishing playing the underdog role this season.
Heading into the season, everyone predicted that the Canucks would finish in last place in the NHL for the second straight season — everyone! — and that didn’t sit well with the Canucks themselves.
“The idea of things in our room versus probably the rest of the world is a lot different,” said Paul Cotter after the season opener. “I think it’s better to be an underdog than it is middle of the pack.”
Cotter has unexpectedly led the Canucks in scoring to start the season with four goals and six points through four games. He’s not the only one scoring, either: the Canucks lead the NHL with 19 goals, though they have also allowed the most goals.
As Cotter has helped the Canucks start the season better than anyone expected, he’s also kept track of those expectations.
“I tend to stay off social media as much as I can, but I’d be dumb if I didn’t hear or see some things,” said Cotter. “Just people talking about how terrible we were going to be. Every one that I saw, I saved, just to have some receipts.”
if you doubted the #Canucks prior to the season, Paul Cotter wants you to know he’s seen it — and he’s filed it away #receipts pic.twitter.com/CQDkBWq7pr
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) October 6, 2026
In other words, if you’ve talked trash about the 2026-27 Canucks on social media, there’s a good chance that Cotter and the rest of the team have seen it and are using the doubt and hate as fuel.
“That’s the type of stuff that motivates you along the way, if you’re the biggest underdog in the league,” said Cotter. “We had high expectations coming into this. I’m happy with how we have started. Obviously, there’s a lot to clean up with where we want to be. If no one has confidence in us, it’s on us to prove them wrong.”
The odds are obviously stacked against the rebuilding Canucks, who are still more likely to fall to the bottom of the standings than compete for the playoffs. In fact, it’s arguably in their best interests as an organization to do so in an effort to get the highest possible pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
But if the Canucks shock the world, Cotter will have the receipts to prove that no one believed in them.