Welcome back to WDYTT, the only hockey column on the internet written by a veteran ambi-turner.

Speaking of going left and right, the Vancouver Canucks are faced with a bit of a conundrum as they head toward the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline.

Quite literally everyone agrees that the Canucks need some improvements on their blueline if they want to be a more competitive team. Now, there are no issues with the top pairing of Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek. It’s everything below those two that is in need of an upgrade, and soon.

Most would agree that the Canucks need to acquire at least one more defender of definitive top-four quality. And most would agree that, if they could, they could probably stand to add two defenders of definitive top-four quality to this roster.

But here’s the thing: defence is hard to trade for in the NHL, and quality defence is doubly so.

Bringing in a new top-four defender at a reasonable price is a big enough challenge already, especially in-season. Bringing in two will be next to impossible.

So, it seems likeliest that the Canucks will have to settle for, at most, one additional top-four defender being added to the mix. Which brings us back to the topic of directions.

If the Canucks were to bring in a new top-four D, would their preference be for someone on the right side of the ice or the left?

The argument for prioritizing a RHD is simple enough. Hughes is a LHD, and that automatically makes the Canucks’ left side significantly stronger than their right. If Hughes can and does play 30 minutes a night, it makes sense to load up his opposite side. RHDs are also, in general, rarer and more valuable than their left-shooting brethren.

But then the argument for prioritizing a LHD takes a longer-term view. Tom Willander is a RHD, and he’s easily the Canucks’ best prospect. Some believe he’ll be able to skate NHL minutes as soon as next year, and if he’s going to be in the picture that soon, perhaps it makes sense to go after an LHD who could feasibly be his future partner.

There are cases to be made on either side. Which makes it perfect grounds for a WDYTT.

This week, we’re asking:

Let it be known in the comment section.

You answered below!

I would say yes, the Canucks will make the playoffs. They still hold a wild card spot even with their poor play of late, and their top players are starting to come back, so it will help.

Will they make the playoffs? Maybe, and I won’t lie, I’ll be very happy if they do. But I think the more important question is “will they make the playoffs with any hope of going deep?”

And it’s fine if they sneak in and don’t go deep this year and it feels like a small step backward. But what I don’t want is the team to basically be playing as it has been – Hughes outstanding; Miller, EP, Boeser, Demko in various stages of ‘OK-ish’ – and management going big on a rental. I understand why they did it last year, but that shouldn’t be repeated for a team that right now, I can’t see possibly going more than two rounds.

No I don’t. I said before the season started that they would fall just short, very similar to how the Flames fell short last year.

The Canucks make the playoffs??? Good question. I want them to make it no problem, but with the way they have been playing for the last two months, I think they either just barely get by or miss it by one point.

The Canucks are in the absolute worst place to be right now… on the bubble.

That means team management will either pull the switch to trade assets for help to limp into the playoffs or they will stand relatively firm and make the current squad make it or break it together.

The ownership are impatient and want playoff revenue, so perhaps despite their better judgement the pressure will be there for the management group to make some deals. Say good bye to drafting high-end prospects in rounds two to four and maybe even one, and say goodbye to a few promising existing prospects as well. As a result, they will limp into the playoffs and see an early first round exit.

So long story short, yes they make the playoffs…but it won’t be pretty.

I don’t care about this year’s playoffs. Let’s fix the defense and improve the organizations depth. Let’s focus on building a team that can compete for the next 5 to 10 years.

Nope… the management group is a mess so they’ll re-sign Boeser and mortgage the future in a failed attempt to do so…

Say good bye to Lekkerimäki  and Willander.

I just don’t see them making it in this year. The second half of the schedule is much harder than the first was. I really hope we don’t make any stupid short-term trades before the TDL.

I think they have accumulated enough points to stay in the mix despite their injuries, indifferent play, and drama. I think Hughes’ play pushes them into a playoff spot.

On a different note, I hope Hughes takes a pass on the 4 Nations tournament. He looks completely exhausted and he is injured. Doubt he does though.

Yes! They are all going to get healthy, find their stride, and head into the playoffs like the blues did in 2019! Keep the faith!!!!

Yea, they will make the playoffs. Team is getting its players back and should go on a run.

After looking at the teams below them in the standings, I think they will make the playoffs, but they’ll need absolutely stellar goaltending to make it past the first round.

I still believe the Canucks will make the playoffs and could make some noise. With a completely depleted roster, they have hung in and around. All top stars missing time, relying on a goalie signed right before camp.

If the players heal up and actually play together, the team could go on a run. Especially if Demmer returns to top form with a 1b back up in Big Kev.

Canucks eke out the turtle derby for the second wild card spot and get the reward of a first round matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights’ cap-busting playoff roster.

I believe the Canucks will miss the playoffs.

The Canucks are fragile right now and bleeding points in OT losses.

The Canucks have been hit with injury after injury, and they can’t seem to build any momentum

The Canucks need to make a major change to improve the defense.

The Canucks need to fix the perceived problem between Pettersson and Miller, that dynamic is bringing the locker room down.

There are too many other teams that are playing well and are not dysfunctional like the Canucks are right now.

The Canucks are fully capable and should make the playoffs this season. Management understands the gap on defence and is looking for ways and the right time to make a move.

The bigger question is should the Canucks focus on making the playoffs this year. There are several players, most notably Boeser, who could be traded now. Soucy can be traded in the offseason. If the focus shifted to next season I’m confident the Canucks could come back with a significantly better roster.

As many suggest, it is probably too soon to shift the focus to next year. It is also too early to trade assets for a rental. That does not mean they should not capitalize on an opportunity to improve the D as long as the upgrade is coming back for at least next season.

Canucks will miss and the narrative will endlessly be about obsessing over losses in OT that made the difference. Some of the usuals will openly blame the NHL and the 3-on-3 format as a conspiracy against the team. Even with returning players from injury, the backend is just not good enough to hold their current wild card position and a late push will come up just a few points short. Not much will happen at the deadline with a mid round pick for a 7th D being the only move with management taking a wait and see approach reluctant to blow up the team. A shake up of the roster will happen with EP40 getting moved at the draft for a meh return that will be sold hard as a windfall and a step forward. Toch will not get an extension and be a lame duck for next season as the team continues to be a bubble team where they will be stuck for the foreseeable future.

Yes, absolutely, and they will be dangerous

I seeing this group going deep as long as Rutherford upgrades the defense…

Yes. The fact that they’re still in position despite all the injuries and trauma-drama is a sign of resilience in itself. They played really well in Washington until O-T, where bad coaching and panic decision-making hurt them. People go on and on about ‘toughness’, but this is a BS argument. The Nux are literally leading the league in hits and probably fights too, so that’s not the issue.

The real issue is speed. The Nux are slow, Boeser slow, all the d-men slow minus one. So, if Tocchet can adjust for that, let more east-west business happen, while still protecting GUTI, then I think they’ll get in.

Petey will pick up, Högz will score again, and Miller and Hughes are gonna will them to the playoffs. They’ll upset whoever they meet in the first round, guarantee.

No, this underperforming, squabbling team will miss the playoffs. Too much turmoil and too little performance based on what they’re paid.

Clearly last year the team overperformed and expectations were far beyond realistic this year.

Just an ugly mediocre year, a typical Canuck year.

My preseason prediction was that the Canucks would finish second or third in the Division with 102 pts, and win one playoff round.

My updated prediction is that they finish in a wild card spot with 99 pts and they win one playoff round.

As of this writing they have a points % of .575, on pace for 94 pts.

The cutoff for making the playoffs last year was 98 in the West and 91 pts in the East.

Squeak in and get smoked first round.

Yes.

I feel like there’s a trade coming for a legit RHD (Höglander + 3rd for Will Borgen?). Maybe a blockbuster involving one of Boeser/Miller with Lankinen for a stud defenseman?

Even if no trades happen, adversity breeds character; if everyone is healthy come playoff time this could be some “us against the world” underdog motivation for a deep run.

My guess is that the Canucks will have better luck in the second half of the season and make the playoffs, but I really don’t care if they do or not. There are more important things to worry about than which side of the bubble the team ends up on. What I would find most frustrating would be transactions to help the team make the playoffs this season while giving up picks and prospects so as to reduce their chances of future success. This team isn’t likely to go far in the playoffs and merely getting into the playoffs shouldn’t be enough incentive to make more moves to help the team this season at the expense of the future.

Yes.

I am not sure I ever BELIEVED the Canucks would make the playoffs. I hoped, based on last year’s performance, that they would have a good chance to make the playoffs. Therefore, I will answer the question after deleting the word “still” from the question.

I do not believe the Canucks will make playoffs based on what I’ve seen so far in 2024-25.

What I’ve seen so far makes it look unlikely that 1. Demko will stay injury free so I don’t think he’ll have a good 2nd half; 2. Millsy’s and Petey’s mediocre play will magically turn around this season; 3. management will be able to improve the bottom 4 D significantly, given their cap situation and lack of assets to offer in return; 5. Höglander will significantly improve this season 6. Heinen will turn into a goal scorer any time soon; 7. Joshua will be effective this season.

The only thing going for the Canucks: the challengers for the 8th playoff spot are Calgary and St. Louis. Both are mediocre teams.

It’s possible for these Canucks to make the playoffs if they decide to go all in and make massive trades for short-term gain. They can be the Vancouver Maple Leafs and get knocked out in the first round because, in this city, it seems a lot of people are satisfied with just making the playoffs instead of winning the Cup.