Welcome back to WDYTT, the only hockey column on the internet that isn’t broke, so don’t fix it.

Speaking of reconstruction, it’s become a hot-button topic in Vancouver of late. Well, not ‘reconstruction,’ exactly, but a relative synonym. Which synonym, specifically? That’s still a matter of debate.

The self-described direction of the Vancouver Canucks has made the full journey from ‘getting younger’ to ‘rebuilding’ to ‘hybrid rebuilding,’ and then back to ‘rebuilding’ once again. Personally, we’ve always preferred ‘refurbishing’ – as in, taking an old franchise and making it like new! – but your own mileage may vary.

In fact, that’s kind of the issue. One of the biggest reasons why there has been such a furor over the exact label being applied to the Canucks’ new status quo is that terms like ‘rebuild’ are largely undefined. A ‘rebuild’ can mean many different things to many different people. Jim Rutherford seems to think a ‘rebuild’ entails trading literally every single veteran on the roster, and says that is why he used the term ‘hybrid’ instead. But others would argue that no team ever really trades away all its older players, and that a ‘rebuild’ simply means refocusing the team’s efforts away from competing in the present day and toward competing a few years down the road.

It’s made for quite a lot of discourse. But it also makes the perfect fuel for a good WDYTT. This column is all about getting your specific, personal opinion on a topic, and this is a topic where everyone should have one. It’ll be interesting to see where we all differ, and even more interesting to see where the opinions align.

This week, we’re asking:

Let it be known in the comment section.

You answered below!

Someone who isn’t on the team just yet. Absolutely no rush to pick a new one, but I will guess it is either Cootes, Keaton Verhoeff, or Alexis Joseph.

Also, this franchise has been rudderless for over a decade.

Choose the guy who spends his off-season in Vancouver, is engaged with the fans at the grassroots level, has a solid work ethic and doesn’t mail in the effort, speaks well and is well-respected in the locker room, and has the ability to bring everyone together for the good of the team. If none of the players on the roster fits this criteria, then don’t assign a captain until they do, even if it takes a few years.

This summer, Montreal makes a cap-clearing trade and sends Josh Anderson to Vancouver for future considerations. Anderson agrees to the trade because he’s immediately extended and named an alternate captain. Anderson stabilizes the team, then gets named the new captain at the end of the season.

Chase Wouters.

Garland, and it’s not even close.

The players seem to play more motivated when he is in the dressing room and he fires them up with his play. Garland also stands up and answers the tough media questions and, by all reports, is a good teammate and mentor to his teammates.

Fin should be the next captain. Based on how this team has played and its position in the standings, Fin should the only one that’s not on the market.

Kiefer Sherwood. Why?

He plays the way I want my team to play. Hard, hard, hard but clean. It isn’t easy to have the most hits and such limited penalty minutes.

He’s a player’s Captain. No threat to the more skilled players. The way he leads by example will provide inspiration to those who have more skill but no wish to be Captain. EP40, for example.

It might be possible to sign him for a little less money and term if he sees how he’s valued by the organization.

Some will say you don’t need to name a captain, go with several alternates. I disagree. For the beginning of the 2026-27 season, they need a captain. They need a single player voice that exudes confidence, respect, work ethic, thoughtful honesty, and that balance between calm and a fire that comes from being ultra-competitive. It’s not a “short term” naming, either.

One name: Hronek.

He played second fiddle to Hughes for a long time, never said a word, just did his job. Now without Hughes ,we are seeing the true Hronek emerge. Some say trade him he’s worth a lot, but real team-building, especially with a group of young prospects coming up, says you need Hronek-style leadership. Maybe understated at times, but just put your work boots on, pick up your lunch bucket, get to work, and get the job done.

Of the vets who stay through what (dear god I hope) is an actual rebuild, I would go with Hronek, with Myers and Garland the As, though I hope both get traded. We still need mentors for the young D and Hronek (and to a lesser extent Myers and Dragon) have done a decent enough job, and seem to actually want to be here knowing full well we’re going to (or should) be terrible for a few years to come. Somewhat surprisingly, I think Hronek has actually elevated his game in the absence of Hughes and I think in a do-over the Red Wings might even prefer to have kept him over having Sandin-Pellikka.

Vancouver Canucks trade their captains, so Kiefer Sherwood should be captain for the next few weeks.

Hronek. Plays hard every game. Stands up for his teammates.

Whoever survives the purge.

I think no one should be named captain of the Canucks. Hughes set a high bar and there is no one else on the team who can replace his leadership.

Canucks are in transition, so it doesn’t make sense to have a captain named this year. The veterans “should” be on the trade block, so making one of them captain shouldn’t happen if there is a chance they can be traded.

Pettersson, Demko, DeBrusk, and Boeser are probably with the team for several years, but none of them are captain material.

Next season, I “may” consider Garland or Hronek to be captain (leaning towards Hronek), but even then, I would be hesitant to name a captain for next year as well.

Cootes looks promising, but is years away. Might be too long to wait. Maybe a placeholder captain for now, but someone the team respects and won’t get traded. I was thinking Myers, but he’s likely traded next year. Not a lot of good options.

The Canucks should not name a captain for the foreseeable future. No attempt to answer this question should be made without a clear understanding of what the plan for the future is.

To use Drance’s term “a period of disciplined rebuilding” means it is probably best to wait out all of next season at least before naming a captain.

A period of rebuilding should see all of the best veteran candidates currently on the team traded in 2-3 years. As fans we get very little insight into who the leaders in the dressing room really are. We won’t really know if one of the young players is becoming a leader or not.

If you had to pick a current player to name a captain today, Hronek is a good choice for his leadership, but a dismal failure as the face of the franchise. It would be torture for him.

Gavin McKenna, maybe, if they get him. We’ll see… nobody off the roster right now..

For guys currently on the roster, I think Garland is the most obvious choice. The epitome of Johnny Canuck with strong work ethic, good skills, and a pitbull on the ice – he gets my vote as the next C.

As for up and coming players already on this roster, if he continues his strong play, I can see a guy like Karlsson getting strong consideration. What more do you need to command respect from your teammates then a guy who has battled, taken his lumps, and persevered to become a solid NHLer this year?

Zeev Buium, but in Fall 2028 after extending for max term.

We need to go like 2-3 years without, our track record outside Trevor/Henrik has been brutal.

Maybe they could make a trade for Horvat.

Watching Cootes get called out 15th at the 2025 draft, so many of his peers came forward to the aisle to congratulate him. He has a natural charisma. He’s a leader. Timing for him to assume the role is important, so I hope they don’t rush it.

Buium might also be a candidate, but I think Cootes is humbler and more grounded.

Buium, Öhgren, and/or Willander would be good A’s, and it will also depend on who they select in the first round of the 2026 draft. Caleb Malhotra would/could be another A or C option if drafted.

We could go with an interim like Tyler Myers, but we don’t have many options currently on the roster other than Hronek. However, he’s terrible with the media so a couple of seasons with just A’s might be the way to go.

I don’t think their next captain is on the roster yet.