Can Canucks fans actually stomach a proper rebuild ? Many look at San Jose as an example of how to do it properly, but can Canucks fans deal with averaging only 10 home wins for 3 seasons in a row?
Nation Sites
The Nation Network
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
JPat’s Monday Mailbag: Do all of the Canucks’ pending UFAs have trade value?
Dec 29, 2025, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 29, 2025, 14:31 EST
Season’s greetings. Hopefully you all got everything on your wish list this year. If not, maybe a new Monday Mailbag will fill the void. It’s as good as cash. It’s always a perfect fit. And there’s no need to return it. It really is the ideal gift. As always, we sought your submissions and our loyal readers didn’t let Christmas get in the way of bringing the goods. So like jolly old Saint Nick, we are here to spread holiday cheer and to deliver this present to you Vancouver Canucks fans. Here is this week’s Monday mailbag.
Well, the way things are going, 10 home wins would truly be an accomplishment for this team this season. So many would likely sign up for that today. With a 4-11-1 record at Rogers Arena after Saturday’s 6-3 loss to San Jose, the Canucks have the fewest home wins in the league. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. And it’s important to note that one of the wins came in overtime against Edmonton. So it’s three regulation victories in 16 home games. In other words, 13 of 16 visitors this season have taken at least a point off the Canucks in Vancouver.
So yes, I truly believe Canucks fans can handle a proper rebuild as long as the vision and plan are properly articulated and masterfully executed. Fans here have endured a dozen disastrous years now save for a couple of flashes of success. It seems a growing portion of the fan base wants to see this organization take a step (or two) back before starting to move forward. What’s been done here for far too long hasn’t yielded the desired results. It’s time to take a different approach. This market deserves so much more than it has been offered for more than a decade.
Jeff, given the limited roster spots, what do the Canucks do when Chytil and Blueger return? Do we lose guys on waivers?
I always feel like people forget that these are the Canucks we’re talking about. What are the chances that all of the players currently on the roster will remain healthy if/when those others get clearance to resume playing? So there’s that. But also, it’s fully expected that the Canucks will start to peddle players from the current roster in short order, freeing up spots for others. Filip Chytil is still weeks away from playing, barring no setbacks, while Teddy Blueger and Derek Forbort are mystery men at this point. So there doesn’t seem like much need to worry about roster spots for those players at this stage. I don’t anticipate the Canucks losing anyone on waivers to accommodate any of Chytil, Blueger, or Forbort. I’ll need to see all three of them pushing for roster spots before I believe this will present any kind of issue for the hockey club.
Considering the Canucks are closing on the 50 contract limit why wouldn’t they have proposed to include a player wirh no future in the organisation like a Josh Bloom to get a contract off the books? Surely this isn’t something that break a deal from a Wild perspective.
According to PuckPedia, the Canucks have 48 of their allotted 50 contract spots filled at the moment. So they have flexibility. I suppose there would have been no harm in trying to offload a deal like Bloom’s, but Minnesota offered up an acceptable package that seemed to check off all the required boxes, and I’m not sure there was any point in the Canucks asking for any further concessions at that point. Minnesota may not be finished adding to its roster, and as such, would want to keep contract slots available in the event of further trade activity. As mentioned above, I truly believe the Canucks will shed further contracts as they get closer to the March 6th trade deadline. So I don’t see this as any sort of obstacle or stumbling block between now and the time a number of minor league deals come off the books on July 1st.
Do you think the Canucks will allow any UFA’s to walk away for nothing? Or do you predict they will all be traded? Also, if the Canucks were to trade 1 vet with term, who would it be?
I’m not so sure that it will be a case of pending unrestricted free agents walking away for nothing (like Pius Suter did last summer). I think it’s far more a question of do all of the pending UFA’s have trade value? Kiefer Sherwood is in high demand, we know that. But will there be a team that feels the absolute need to pursue 34-year-old Evander Kane who, it must be noted, has trade protection (a 16-team approved trade list)? The same uncertainty surrounds David Kämpf, who doesn’t have any trade protection. And then you have to wonder if Teddy Blueger and Derek Forbort will attract any interest if they’re not playing games at some point soon.
Both would have been trade chips that might have landed late round picks, but there is so much uncertainty around both of them that it’s hard to see a team (or teams) feeling those are the types of players needed for any sort of playoff run. So I think it’s quite likely a couple of veterans remain with the team through the balance of the schedule and find new places to play next season. As for a veteran with term being on the block, I think Conor Garland is the guy that would likely have the most interest around the league. The length of his contract extension would likely scare some teams off, but I think Garland would be a terrific addition as a third-line play driver that would instantly improve just about every team’s middle six.
What do you think of Cootes deployment at the World Juniors so far? Feels a bit disappointing. Indictment of Canucks prospect pool and 4th line, low minutes and no special teams is where he belongs. Or miscast, waiting for an opportunity to impress and carve out a larger role?
I’m not too concerned about the way Braeden Cootes is being handled by Dale Hunter and the Team Canada coaching staff. The World Juniors is usually a showcase for 19-year-olds. Of course, there are exceptions. But the fact Cootes made the team at all is a success story. I’m sure he’d like to be playing more than eight minutes a game. But he’s a depth option on this team this year and is being utilized as such. I don’t think that should be a surprise to anyone.
Canada has a ton of top-end talent, and in a short-form tournament, coaches are going to lean on their best players. Obviously, Canada has some areas to address after narrow wins over Czechia and Latvia. But I don’t expect to see Braeden Cootes get many more opportunities unless Canada has full control of its remaining preliminary-round games. Cootes is a very good player and a top prospect for the Canucks, but he’s part of the supporting cast on this year’s Team Canada, at least for now. That’s not an indictment of anyone. It’s just the way it is.
Sponsored by bet365
Breaking News
- The JT Miller trade with the Rangers: Top 10 Canucks stories of 2025 – #3
- JPat’s Monday Mailbag: Do all of the Canucks’ pending UFAs have trade value?
- NHL trade rumours: Should the Canucks be interested in Blues winger Jordan Kyrou?
- World Juniors: Sweden outlasts Canucks’ Sansonnens and Switzerland
- 3 Canucks Stars of the Week: Thatcher Demko stands tall, Garland keeps fighting