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Vancouver Canucks reveal new-look top power-play unit

Trevor Beggs
Trevor Beggs
|
Sep 23 2025, 11:17 pm
Vancouver Canucks reveal new-look top power-play unit
@Canucks/X

For the first time in the 2025-26 season, we have an idea of how the Vancouver Canucks will likely structure their power play.

The first unit looks similar to last year; however, it includes one new offseason addition.

During practice at UBC on Tuesday, the Canucks rolled out a first unit of Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Jake DeBrusk, and new winger Evander Kane, per Sportsnet 650’s Brendan Batchelor.

It appears the Canucks will have DeBrusk positioned at the net front, Boeser in the bumper spot, and Pettersson in his usual spot on the right half-wall. Kane lined up in J.T. Miller’s old spot on the left flank.

Conor Garland primarily replaced Miller in that spot last season. But Garland wasn’t at practice Tuesday, with head coach Adam Foote saying he won’t play in Wednesday’s preseason game in Abbotsford due to a minor injury.

“He was supposed to be playing tomorrow night,” Foote said to the media. “If we were playing a home opener, he’d be playing.”

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Garland ended up back on the top unit at some point. The 29-year-old set a career-high with 16 power-play points last season, although he did score seven goals on 28 shots, which is probably unsustainable.

Kane has never been a prolific power-play producer. He has a career-high of 15 power-play points in a single season, which he achieved back in 2018-19. The 34-year-old has also never had more than six man-advantage assists in a single season.

Vancouver’s power play, somewhat surprisingly, was slightly more functional after they traded Miller in January. Whether Garland or Kane ends up on the top unit, the Canucks’ power play will be looking to continue its success from the end of last season.

During the 40 games that Miller played, the Canucks converted on 21.9 per cent of their power-play chances, which was 18th in the NHL. However, they benefitted from some shooting luck, as they posted only 6.87 expected goals per 60 minutes, 27th overall in the league.

Without Miller, their power play clicked at 23.2 per cent (15th overall). However, the 8.62 expected goals per 60 that they registered following the Miller trade ranked eighth overall in the NHL.

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