What Vancouver Canucks lines could look like next season
After undergoing a significant amount of in-season change in 2024-25, the Vancouver Canucks have opted for continuity so far this offseason.
Judging by reports, that wasn’t necessarily by choice.
Nevertheless, barring something unforeseen, the Canucks will have their quietest free agency period in years.
They’ve added just one new NHL player via free agency, in defenceman Pierre-Olivier Joseph. The other new addition is Evander Kane, who was acquired in a June 25 trade with the Edmonton Oilers.
More moves could be coming, and we know Canucks GM Patrik Allvin isn’t shy about pulling the trigger on a trade.
But as it stands right now, on paper the Canucks look a lot like they did at the end of last season.
And yet, there are a ton of question marks with this group.
Canucks projected lineup
Will Elias Pettersson regain the form he has shown for most of his career? Can Filip Chytil and Thatcher Demko stay healthy?
The Canucks are counting on the answers to each of those questions being “yes,” because those three players will surely be counted on in prominent roles by new head coach Adam Foote.
Forward lines
DeBrusk – Pettersson – Boeser
Kane – Chytil – Garland
Höglander – Räty – Sherwood
Joshua – Blueger – O’Connor
Karlsson
Bains
With J.T. Miller gone, Elias Pettersson is now Vancouver’s undisputed No. 1 centre.
While the Canucks’ centre depth is thin, they’re deep on the wings. Kiefer Sherwood scored 40 points last season, but we have him starting on the third line. Dakota Joshua and Drew O’Connor combine to make $5.75 million, but they’re on the fourth line.
Look for Brock Boeser to rekindle chemistry with Pettersson, with Jake DeBrusk on the other wing. Kane finds a home on a line with Chytil and Conor Garland.
Is Aatu Räty ready for third-line minutes at the NHL level? It would solve a problem if he were. We’ve slotted him between Nils Höglander, who is looking to bounce back after a dreadful 25-point season, along with Kiefer Sherwood, who is coming off a career-best 40-point season. That bumps Teddy Blueger to the fourth line, where he is best suited.
The extra forward spots have been filled with Linus Karlsson and Arshdeep Bains — the top two forwards in Abbotsford’s Calder Cup championship. It’s now or never for those two players.
Defence pairs
Hughes-Hronek
M. Pettersson-Myers
Forbort-E. Pettersson
Joseph
There’s less to wonder about on defence, as the Canucks’ top-four is practically set with Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek on the first pair, and Marcus Pettersson and Tyler Myers on the second pair.
The third pair is where it gets interesting. Derek Forbort would appear to have the inside track on the left side, but the right side could go in several different directions.
We’ve given it to second-year blueliner Elias Pettersson, but the spot could easily be won by Joseph, Victor Mancini, or Tom Willander.
Joseph would need waivers to be sent to the AHL, so we’re keeping him as the extra defenceman, with Mancini and Willander starting in Abbotsford.
Goaltenders
Demko
Lankinen
If everyone is healthy, there’s no suspense in goal. Demko will start, and Kevin Lankinen will back him up.