Welcome back to WDYTT, the only hockey column on the internet that doesn’t need to stick to its own plans.

Speaking of plans, we had initially planned for this week’s edition to be some variation of “React to the Canucks’ Trade Deadline deals.” But then the 2025 Trade Deadline came and went with barely a whisper of ‘Carson Soucy to NYR for a third.’

And we can’t very well ask you to “React to Carson Soucy getting traded to NYR for a third,” now can we?

So, with that in mind, we decided to open things up a little bit. All the way to last year, meaning the past 365 days or so.

By our count, the Vancouver Canucks have made eight trades over the past 12 months. Some big, some medium, and some small. On the whole, it doesn’t seem like a lot for a franchise headed by someone they used to call “Trader Jim”. But it’s still enough of a list from which to pick a favourite and a least favourite.

And that, dear readers, is your task today.

This week, we’re asking:

Let it be known in the comment section.

You answered below!

They ask last year. However, our entire decline started the day they traded away Horvat.

Monster mistake to keep Miller over Horvat.

Not hard to look back and see this one bad decision cost us [both] players [and Pettersson, too.]

I miss Big Z. It was so sweet to see him flatten any opposing player with the temerity to hassle our goaltender.

Nikita Zadorov is the player I miss the most in the last year. He brought swagger to the team and opponents feared him on the ice. I was a fan favorite player, and the Canucks have missed the excitement he brought to the team.

D-Petey looks like he could fill Zadorov’s role on the team.

Zadorov.

Yup…[Zadorov.]

He had everyone else playing a size bigger. He’s having a great year in Boston. He’s been the bruins best D-man all season. He’s doing his job there.

The player that I will miss the most is Miller, even though he had a personality conflict with his teammates. I’m sure that the fans will miss chanting his name, especially when he is not there to score a clutch goal with his laser of a shot. He was the logical choice over Horvat and I’m sure that he will do fine in NY.

Stan Smyl.

My safe answer is echoing the Zadorov consensus. Said it before that all the “depth” we overpaid for in Forbort and Desharnais was bunk. Imagine overpaying for the D-man that Zadorov clowned on and trying to say that’s an improvement. That was the homer fanbase in July. Zadorov is JR/PA’s lowkey “ran out of time” moment. Oh, and for those saying he’s a #5 D-man who we don’t want to pay #3-4 money for? He’s spending time on the top pair for Boston.

My disqualified answer is slightly outside the time bracket and never a Canuck: Axel Sandin Pellikka (the first round pick traded for Hronek) and the first traded for MPetey. The refusal to commit to a rebuild and instead the need to flush any first acquired for immediate pricey #3-4 Dmen is the most Benning move of this regime – especially since they could have just paid Zadorov the same amount and keep the first for free.

And my future answer that I pray is wrong? EP25. The Canucks have always been buyers even when it’s stupid to do so, and give up everything other than their absolute untouchable prospects – Willander and Lekkerimäki. That means their next best prospects in EP25 and Kudryavtsev are on the block. Embrace the pain.

No one. Putting everything in context, Z was a treat, but I like MP3, and EP25 lining up behind Quinn on LD at their price points, skills and deployment. Z at 2LD based on $ is inferior to MP3, IMHO. Z at 3LD is nonsense at $.

Horvat leaving is greater than the last year, but with Miller gone, and the cap rising quickly, I miss him more and more everyday. Think Lou would send him back here for BB?

Then again, I don’t really want to relegate Chytil to 3C, but Horvat is a legit 2C. Anyway, that ship has sailed, but I do find myself whimsical about Horvat these days.

Everyone else? Um, I did miss Cole for a spell earlier in the year. He was solid for his $.

I miss the old EP40. He left town about a year ago.

I miss the old Soucy.

I miss last year’s Joshua, big time.

I miss last year’s Höglander, too.

I miss The Kuzmenkshow up until the script was re-written with a tragic ending.

JT Millllerrr, JT Millllerrr, JT Milllerrr.

But maybe Big Z the most.

Next would be Kuzzy. Great fan guy. A guy on EP40’s wing that could actually score, Praise the Lord. Too bad be didn’t fit into Tocchet’s defensive scheme. Was this what precipitated EP40’s slide? Timing is about right.

Bo Horvat. I know it’s two years ago, but still miss Bo.

Before we traded for Marcus Pettersson, my choice would have been Ian Cole. Underrated last year and was really good in the first round.

For me, it’s Podkolzin and it’s for three reasons.

1)Attitude:

During his exit interview last season, management gave him several directives that he’d need to work on if he wanted to have a regular job in the NHL. So Podkolzin stayed in Vancouver during the off-season and worked his ass off and got in the best shape of his career to date. Not a lot of struggling former top ten draft picks from Russia are willing to swallow their pride and admit they need to work harder to stay in the NHL. A lot of them sulk and demand trades and they fly back to Russia to join the KHL. Podkolzin never refused to report to the minors every time he was sent down and he worked his ass off to try and get sent back up to the big club.

2)Accountability:

Conor Garland had a long talk with Rick Tocchet during his exit interview on how he could earn more ice time, and Tocchet told him what he needed to do and Conor worked on that during the off-season with Quinn Hughes. Podkolzin had the same talk with Tocchet and he focused on the aspects of his game that would make Tocchet happy and help him earn more ice time. I believe under Tocchet’s system, Podkolzin would have had a career year in Vancouver this season.

3)Value:

Podkolzin’s contract was cheap. He would have provided surplus value on his contract and the Canucks would have been able to use the savings on other needs. After his contract expired he’d still be an RFA and if he did indeed have a career year, he’d have been a valuable trade asset. He would have been an asset on the 3rd or 4th line and with him upping his physical play, would have looked really good with Sherwood.