Is free agency the true indicator of whether or not they are rebuilding?
Nation Sites
The Nation Network
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
JPat’s Monday Mailbag: Is free agency the true indicator of whether the Canucks are rebuilding?
Jun 15, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 15, 2026, 01:59 EDT
The Stanley Cup has been presented, and now the focus of the hockey world turns to the National Hockey League Draft at the end of next week.
For the Vancouver Canucks, the next three weeks will provide us with the first real insight into how the new management regime plans to attack the rebuild. There is a lot of heavy lifting to do, and if done properly, the rebuild will proceed slowly and methodically. But the next few weeks should still provide a glimpse at how the hockey club plans to go about its business. Many of you had questions about what to expect from the Canucks over the coming weeks. So let’s get down to business with this week’s Monday mailbag.
Oh, I don’t think so. It can be a piece of the puzzle, but only if the Canucks find a way to sign unrestricted free agents to one-year deals with the intent of boosting their value and flipping them at the trade deadline. But getting pending UFAs to agree to short-term contracts is never an easy feat. I think the far greater indicator of the rebuild will be if this management group gets creative and aggressive and finds a way to move off at least two of the current veterans on the roster with term remaining. That, more than anything, will show the hockey world the Canucks are serious about the rebuild and effectively signal that this group means business. Of course, all of the trade protection granted by the previous management will complicate efforts. But if the Canucks are truly serious about advancing the cause, they simply have to find a way to rid themselves of a couple of contracts this summer.
Who are we taking at 24? I feel like no one is talking about how important this pick needs to hit for this rebuild to really get started
It’s impossible to know who will still be on the board when the Canucks get to their second pick of the first round, but I certainly won’t be surprised if they use the selection on a centre. Our prospects writer, Dave Hall, offered up five names that could certainly be candidates for the 24th overall pick. And I don’t know who or what you’re reading and listening to these days, but I sense the market understands the importance of the Canucks finding three players with their four picks in the top 41. Obviously, they’d love to hit on all four. But at a minimum, they need to add three bona fide prospects to their stable, and that leaves them with little margin for error with the two first-rounders they currently possess.
If Canucks are looking for toughness than can contribute each game, who’s out there?
If we’re talking free agency, there are a handful of candidates about to hit the open market that should be of interest to the Canucks. I’ve long banged the drum for defenceman Jeremy Lauzon, who isn’t flashy, but plays an honest, physical game. I truly believe the Canucks would like to find toughness that can play the game. The idea of bringing in a 13th or 14th forward with some muscle isn’t nearly as appealing. It’s hard to be much of a deterrent if you’re not in uniform. To that end, the Canucks will likely kick tires on the likes of Beck Malenstyn, Jeff Viel and Brandon Duhaime. Our Stephan Roget identified 11 candidates that may be of interest to the hockey club on the open market. I’d shy away from aging defencemen like Luke Schenn and Radko Gudas, but there are a number of legitimate candidates on the list.
Are there any names out there that you would like to see added as assistant coaches to manny’s staff
It’s tough to know what Manny Malhotra is looking for as he rounds out his bench staff. He’s starting with a clean slate, so you’d think he’d need someone to work with the forwards and run the power play and also someone else to handle the defencemen and quite likely be in charge of the penalty kill. I’d really like to see Malhotra find a former NHL head coach looking to stay in the game to provide a steady hand and bring experience and savvy to the staff. I wonder if Gerard Gallant would accept a role like that to get back into the NHL. Don Granato is another name, as is Phil Housley, who might be a solid mentor for the young defencemen in the Canucks system. Chris Hajt is a name that may be of interest. He worked with new assistant GM Rich Seeley in the Kings system for years, has been an NHL assistant coach and was a junior hockey teammate of Malhotra’s in Guelph.
Is the sentiment “this is the most important draft in Vancouver Canucks history“ hyperbolic, and a result of recency bias, or is this legitimately the draft that will make or break the rebuild?
I think it’s hard to quantify this as ‘the’ single most important draft in franchise history, but it certainly seems like it would be right up there on a very short list. I don’t know that this draft on its own will determine whether the rebuild is a success overall. The Canucks could very well win the lottery next year, and maybe that would make the 2027 Draft the most important the organization has ever been a part of. But with 10 picks leading into the draft, the Canucks have more capital than they’ve had in decades. That inflated pick volume gives them flexibility to keep the selections or use them as trade assets. I’ll be surprised if they use all 10 of their picks. But maybe they trade a few of their later-round selections for picks in future drafts, or bundle a few to move up a few slots this year.
What is your dark horse prediction for the draft?
Commissioner Gary Bettman announces that this will be the final draft on his watch. He spoke openly a week ago about the league starting to work on a succession plan. As he said, he’s 74, and he’s not going to be in the job forever. After a wildly entertaining Stanley Cup Final and with the league in a good spot in terms of star power and franchise stability, now seems like it might be the right time for Bettman to take a bow and then turn in his swipe card.
PRESENTED BY VIVID SEATS
Recent articles from Jeff Paterson
Breaking News
- JPat’s Monday Mailbag: Is free agency the true indicator of whether the Canucks are rebuilding?
- NHL Notebook: Hurricanes capture Stanley Cup with Game 6 win over Golden Knights
- The Canucks couldn’t ask for more goodwill about their rebuild than they have right now
- 5 high-floor prospects the Canucks could target with pick 24 at the 2026 NHL Draft
- Canucks went outside the organization for key development roles | Wagner’s Weekly