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31 days, 31 questions: What are the Canucks’ optimal power play units next season?
Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Aug 9, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 9, 2026, 10:26 EDT
Welcome to a new series here at CanucksArmy, where over the month of August, we’ll ask a new question each day about the Vancouver Canucks. We’re calling it “31 days, 31 questions”. Today, on August 9th, a look at the optimal power play units for the Canucks
Before looking ahead and attempting to answer this question, it’s important to look back and be reminded that over their final 25 games last season, the moribund Vancouver Canucks had the second-best power play in the National Hockey League. They were better than the Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and basically every team in the National Hockey League. Look it up, it’s true. The only team to perform better with the man advantage than the last-place Canucks after the Olympic break was the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.
Over those final 25 contests, the Canucks converted on 19 of their 58 power play opportunities, and their remarkable 32.8% conversion rate trailed the Canes by exactly one percent.
So based on that evidence, it’s probably safe to assume that Manny Malhotra and his coaching staff will borrow from one of the few elements that actually worked for the Canucks last season. Over the final third of the season, the Canucks rolled with Elias Pettersson on the right half wall, Marco Rossi on the left flank, Filip Hronek at the top with Brock Boeser in the bumper and Jake DeBrusk causing havoc at the net front. When it comes to the power play, it would seem the Canucks ought to buy into the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ approach. Every member of that top unit cashed in at least once down the stretch, led by DeBrusk with eight goals and Boeser with four. As it stands at the moment, all five of the players mentioned will be back with the team to start the season and, as such, should be rolled out at the team’s first power play unit.
It’s the second unit where things get a little more intriguing. Down the stretch, the Canucks went with youngsters Zeev Buium and Tom Willander at the points, and primarily used a combination of forwards, including Conor Garland, Evander Kane, Drew O’Connor, and Linus Karlsson, with a splash of ice time for Liam Öhgren and Nils Höglander.
Considering the offseason roster churn, Malhotra will have decisions to make with his second unit.
First off, he’ll have to determine whether he wants to run the two young defenders out in tandem or whether he wants to allow Buium to spread his wings and run his own grouping with an eye to the future of the hockey club. If the Canucks opt for a two-defender set, then their forward options are likely Karlsson, Jonathan Lekkerimäki and perhaps Filip Chytil with Öhgren, O’Connor or maybe even Aatu Räty in the mix. If they elect to go with just one defender, then it’s likely Karlsson at the net front, Lekkerimäki on one half wall, perhaps Chytil on the other and either Öhgren or Räty in the bumper. Of course, 17-goal Drew O’Connor would likely want to be in the discussion, as would veteran Brendan Gallagher, who twice netted eight goals with the man advantage in Montreal.
On a rebuilding team, it seems like priority should be given to the likes of Lekkerimäki, Öhgren, and Räty. But if the Canucks are trying to boost the trade value of O’Connor – or perhaps even Chytil – then maybe those two should be given stronger consideration.
Ultimately, if the Canucks’ first unit produces at anything close to the rate it finished last season, it really won’t matter who is on the second unit. Then again, if the Canucks trade Jake DeBrusk or Elias Pettersson, then the power play groups are anybody’s guess.
What do you think, Canucks fans? Who do you want to see operating the Canucks’ power play units in 2026-27? Let us know in the comments below!
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Vancouver CanucksTeam Cap Summary
Cap Summary
2026-27
2027-28
Projected Cap Hit
$86,185,833
$62,923,333
Projected Cap Space
$17,814,167
$50,576,666
Current Cap Space
$17,814,167
$50,576,666
Active Players
23/23
13/23
Draft Picks
Round
'26
'27
1
2
1
2
2
2
3
1
1