The mood around the Vancouver Canucks remains grim as the team continues to struggle for wins, a reality that is weighing heavily on key players. Despite flashes of strong play, the results have not followed, leaving the roster frustrated and management poised to make moves ahead of the trade deadline.
DeBrusk's Frustration After Dominant Performance Falls Short
Following a 3-2 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday, January 3, 2026, the disappointment was palpable, especially for winger Jake DeBrusk. His line, featuring Linus Karlsson and Elias Pettersson, was statistically dominant, preventing the Bruins from registering a single shot attempt while they were on the ice.
"You know it did feel like we weren't in our own end much," DeBrusk acknowledged when presented with the stat. However, the positive metric offered little consolation. "But we still didn't win," he sighed. "We wasted a night like that. We're the top line, so we got to produce... in a game like that, where it's so tilted, we just got to find the extra one."
DeBrusk, who scored in a game against the Seattle Kraken just days earlier on January 2, admitted this challenging season is taking a toll. When asked if this was the hardest campaign of his career, he responded plainly, "Yeah. I'm not used to it, the losing, honestly." He expressed a sense of responsibility to the fans, noting, "He knows fans are paying a lot and they're not getting much for their money."
Kiefer Sherwood's Future: Trade Remains 'Highly Unlikely'
Amid the on-ice struggles, the front office's plans appear unchanged. Despite recent reports of contract discussions, the most likely path for pending unrestricted free agent Kiefer Sherwood is a trade. Team president Jim Rutherford had previously stated the club's intent to trade UFAs for future assets, and Sherwood is viewed as the lead chip in that strategy.
Sources close to the team confirm that while Sherwood is respected as a high-character player who has worked tirelessly to reach the NHL, the priority is building for the future. His value on the trade market is considered significant, and the Canucks are focused on acquiring young talent in return. While nothing is final until announced, a contract extension for Sherwood is currently seen as a remote possibility.
Searching for Positives in a Lost Season
DeBrusk pointed to some improvements, such as a power play that has looked more dangerous, scoring twice in the game prior to the Bruins loss. Yet, he refused to accept moral victories. "We're moving the puck around, sure," he said, but emphasized there is "always room for improvement."
With roughly half the season remaining, DeBrusk holds onto a sliver of hope for a turnaround. "Things can change quick, right?" he mused. For now, however, the Canucks are a team defined by its inability to secure victories, a reality that is a painful new experience for players like Jake DeBrusk and one that is driving management's decisions as the trade deadline approaches.
