The Vancouver Canucks enter the new year navigating a challenging mix of injuries, Olympic roster announcements, and persistent struggles in the standings. As the team prepares to host the Seattle Kraken and Boston Bruins at Rogers Arena, key players are sidelined and tough questions about the club's direction remain.
Injury Blow: Garland and Rossi Out at Least One Week
The Canucks will be without two significant forwards for their upcoming homestand. Conor Garland and Marco Rossi are both expected to miss at least one week due to injuries. Their absence depletes the team's offensive options as they face a back-to-back set against Pacific Division rival Seattle and the historic foe from Boston.
Lankinen's Olympic Dream Realized, Demko's Snub Highlights Injury History
On a positive note for one individual, goaltender Kevin Lankinen has been named to Finland's roster for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy. The 30-year-old netminder, who signed a five-year deal with Vancouver last February, expressed his excitement about achieving a major career goal.
"Yeah, of course. It's a big goal of mine this year," Lankinen said with a grin when asked about the pending selection.
The Olympic news, however, underscores a disappointing reality for his goaltending partner. Thatcher Demko was not named to the Team USA roster, a decision many attribute to his extensive injury history despite his elite talent. Demko has not represented the United States since the 2019 IIHF World Championship. Team USA will instead feature Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, and Jeremy Swayman in net.
The U.S. roster announcements contained several surprises, including the inclusion of former Canuck J.T. Miller and the omission of stars like Adam Fox. This will be former Canucks captain Quinn Hughes's first time playing for Team USA since 2019.
A Season of Struggle and Reflection
The Canucks' on-ice performance continues to be a source of frustration. The team has managed only four wins in 17 home games this season, marking their worst home record through the Christmas period since the mid-1980s. This comes despite another round of increased ticket prices from ownership.
The Olympic selections have also prompted reflection on paths not taken. Bo Horvat was named to Team Canada, meaning at least three prominent former Canucks—Horvat, Miller, and Hughes—will feature at the Games. This has led to inevitable speculation about what might have been if the club had managed to retain its core talent.
"There once was a dream to somehow have all three of Horvat, Miller and Elias Pettersson in the same stable," the analysis notes, pondering the alternate history for a franchise in flux.
Trade Rumours and Power Rankings Reality
With the NHL trade deadline looming, speculation continues to swirl around the Canucks. Restricted free agents Kiefer Sherwood and Evander Kane are frequently mentioned as trade candidates, potentially destined for teams seeking physical depth for the playoffs.
An analysis of "buyer's remorse" contracts highlighted Kane's situation in Vancouver. The hometown veteran, on a $5.1 million cap hit, has scored just six goals this season. With the team's focus shifting to the future, moving the pending unrestricted free agent for assets is a stated goal, though it "might be easier said than done."
The national media's view of the team remains bleak. In the latest power rankings, ESPN placed the Canucks dead last at 32nd in the league, with a points percentage of 44.9. Their preview for the January 3rd game against Boston noted the 15-year anniversary of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, a stark reminder of past heights versus current realities.
Sportsnet was slightly more charitable, ranking Vancouver 30th, while CBS Sports also slotted them at 30th, suggesting it is time for the Canucks to "burn it all down" and rebuild around young stars like Zeev Buium and Marco Rossi.
As the Canucks navigate injuries, roster changes, and a difficult schedule, the overarching narrative remains one of a franchise in a painful transition, searching for a new foundation amid a season of home-ice disappointments.
