Welcome back to WDYTT, the only hockey column built directly on personal appeal.

Speaking of personal, let’s get personal. With the Vancouver Canucks off the television for the next several weeks – or, most of the Canucks, that is – this is the perfect opportunity to get to know our readers outside of the context that typically brings us together.

We assume that if you’re a regular reader of this site, then watching Canucks games is also a part of your weekly routine. But now, there’s no Canuck hockey on until February 25. What else are we going to do with our time?

For many, it will be an easy transition from watching the Canucks to watching the various events at the Olympic Games. Others will take the opportunity to get away from the television entirely. Some will fall somewhere in between. Heck, a few of you may have even discovered a new hobby already!

We also have to imagine there’s a not-insignificant contingent of you that are simply grateful for a break from this ongoing 2025-26 campaign.

Whatever it is that you are doing to fill the Canucks-shaped void in your life right now, we want to hear about it. One, because you matter to us, and it’s always nice to get to know you better. But two, because it’s actually a fine way to track the general importance of Canucks hockey in all our lives, by measuring the impact of its absence.

They say, “We Are All Canucks.” Well, for the next couple of weeks, we are all in need of something to fill our time. What’s it going to be?

This week, we’re asking:

Let it be known in the comment section, and we’ll be back with a more hockey-related question next week.

You answered below!

Zeev.

Not sure any of this group will even be on the team in five years., but I will go with Zeev, as at worst, he should be able to hold down a PP specialist job.

I hope that it’s Cootes. More likely Buium.

Since the Canucks’ first round draft pick this season has not materialized into a real person yet, I am going with one of the rookie defenders, and for me it is the player wearing Garth Butcher’s old number five, Tom Willander.

Like all rookies, we have seen some mistakes from him this season, but not very many. I have been impressed by his ability to stickhandle his way out of traffic and to move the puck very efficiently through the neutral zone. More importantly, he is a defender, so he has to defend, which he seems to do pretty well. The kid has a high hockey IQ, so I think he will be very successful.

Öhgren.

I feel like the best player (that’s already in the system) will be Willander, but I hope Cootes will be an important part of the team as well.

Willander or Buium seem like good bets.

Far-fetched, but wouldn’t it be something if it turned out to be Alriksson?

It appears that this team traded Quinn Hughes straight-up for Liam Öhgren, so it had better be Liam Öhgren, but no pressure …

It should be Zeev or Cootes, otherwise we are still in hockey purgatory.

Same as it is today. Hronek.

Seriously, though, I will go with Buium. Lots of raw talent to work with.

Buium, Willander, Cootes, Öhgren, Lekkerimäki, D-Petey, Mancini, Patterson, and this year’s top-three should all be main keys to the next core within five years, likely sooner… out of those, though, I’ll guess this year’s first will have the most NHL impact.

Petey. But, he might not be on the Canucks.

Räty will be a beast.

If it is any of the current crop, the team is doomed, unless it is Tolopilo.

BigBA:
Buium will be our best player in five years, followed by Verhoeff and our new top-six C.

Best Canuck in five years? One of Öhgren, Buium, or Cootes. I’m going to Buium, with the highest ceiling. If his brain + offensive game fully translates, he could be the most impactful.

I’ll say Tom Willander will be the best player from the current prospect pool.

He shows maturity on the ice and seems to be developing very well right now.

He has the demeanor of a future captain.

Öhgren shows the most promise amongst the forwards. However, the Canucks would have to hope the first draft pick this year develops into their best NHLer. We haven’t seen anything of him yet, but goaltender Medvedev should be in that conversation. But in the meantime, with so much uncertainty in goal, the Canucks need to trade for Jesper Wallstedt to make him our best NHLer.

If I am going defensemen, then it is Zeev for sure. If I am going forward, then I am going for who ever is picked in the top-five this year. A sad testimony to trading away multiple draft picks and still cup-less with no true top-end forward talent in the pipeline. Too much hope and not enough skill.

I don’t know, but chances are he won’t be playing for the Canucks.

Those likely to be here in five years on a rebuilding team is a short list, but the crop to choose from would include Cootes, Patterson, Romani, Alriksson, Öhgren, Buium, Willander, EP25, Alcos, and Medvedev. I don’t think Lekkerimäki will make it.

Picking the “best” of these would depend on what metrics were used to define what is the best NHLer. If you were to use goals scored, then Öhgren has the best chance. If it’s points, then Buium or Willander will compete for the title. If leadership was the metric, then Cootes gets it, followed by Buium, Willander, and Öhgren. If number of games played is your definition, then it’s probably Cootes (assuming they all start at the same time). If it’s the most all-round impact, then I’d say Öhgren, as he’s looking like a scorer that does PP and PK, followed closely by Cootes.

So, the winner of this title in my eyes is Cootes…the soon to be our Bo Horvat replacement. Öhgren a close second and Buium third.

I’m gonna say Zeev Buium. Over the summer, lots of the prospect rankings I listened to had him pretty high up, and if he can polish his game a bit, we have a top-two d-man in him.

For me, I really like Karlsson’s game, and think while he may not put up the most points, he may turn into a Matt Cullen / Nick Foligno type that is just consistent throughout his career. Never too low and never too high, but plays a reliable hard-working style that really sets him up in my mind as a possible captain going forward.

While Buium is the favorite choice between Willander and Buium, I just really love Willander. I worry about Buium’s defense.

Here’s a hot take. EP40 is easily the team’s best player today, followed by Hronek. I think he will still be the team’s best player in 2031, of the players currently Canuck assets.

I am not a fan of him and hate to say it, but there it is.

I see potential in Willander, Buium, Öhgren, and EP25. I would say Öhgren and Willander look most ready to be effective regular NHL players. Buium and EP25 need to learn how to play defence at the NHL level. Cootes is an unknown and may be a good NHL player one day. It seems to me Willander or Buium – if he can tighten his defensive game – will be best player from the current roster in five years. He’s not on the current roster, so doesn’t count, but I think it’s likely the 2026 draft choice at the top of the draft (probably top-three) will be the Canucks’ best player in five years.

In five years? Likely either Buium or the player they take in the top-three this year. Darkhorse is EP40, who would only be 32 at that stage. Henrik Sedin had his best two years of a HHOF career at 30 and 31.