Welcome back to WDYTT, the only hockey column on the internet that always hits its deadlines.

Speaking of deadlines, the 2025 Trade Deadline is fast approaching. In fact, by the time you read these words, it will be just two weeks away. And by the time your own responses to this weekly call-and-response column are published, said deadline will be just one week hence.

Which means this is, effectively, our last opportunity to ask about it ahead of time. So, that’s what we’re doing.

Trade Deadlines can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different hockey teams. Sometimes, you’re a buyer. Sometimes, you’re a seller. And sometimes, you’re two weeks out from the Trade Deadline and don’t know yet exactly what you are. The Vancouver Canucks find themselves in the lattermost camp.

They’re a playoff team, or at least they were when these words were written. But then ambiguity has sort of been the story of the 2024/25 season for these Canucks.

With several pending UFAs and perhaps some non-UFAs on the block, the changes might not yet be done in Vancouver. The good money is probably still on them sticking the course, adding a piece or two, and attempting to make as much noise in the playoffs as possible. But then again, stranger things have happened, and more does seem to be on the table this year than ever before.

We wouldn’t go making any concrete predictions anytime soon. Nor will we ask you to.

Instead, today, we’re on a quest for vision. We’re idealizing.

This week, we’re asking you:

Let it be known in the comment section.

You answered below!

For a while I wasn’t enjoying watching the Canucks. There was a general malaise with the team, and the drama between Pettersson and Miller was both annoying and tiring. The players just didn’t look motivated to play, there was low goal-scoring, and the goaltending was awful which further demoralized the team.

Since the trades, there has definitely been a different atmosphere with the team. It partly coincides with Demko finally finding his game and giving the team decent goaltending.

Winning always improves morale, but the injection of new blood into the team and the excising of Miller really seemed to inspire the Canucks.

I have really been enjoying watching the Canucks again.

I think the team is better overall. JT was an amazing player, but this is a team sport.

If Chytil stays healthy, he will be a solid top-six player. The addition of Pettersson was needed on our D and he is a good long-term piece. O’Connor adds speed and we will see if they sign him. Mancini is the wild card.

I also look at the addition of EP25 and see a team that is much deeper and defensively stronger. Defense wins championships.

The Canucks will make the playoffs, how far will they get in the playoffs is dependent on whether or not EP40 can find his offense, and if the Canucks goaltenders can keep up their success.

Canucks defense has done a complete turnaround. From leaking breakaways and goals against to playing a solid defensive structure, keeping the opposition teams chance down to a bare minimum.

If management can add some offensive power to the lineup, it would lesson the dependence on hoping and praying EP40 ‘s offensive game will return sometime soon.

Nope… they won’t make the playoffs and they hang on to UFAs who will all walk in the off-season which will set the team back even further.

If they make it they’ll be out in four games.

The D looks much better with the top-four of Hughes, Hronek, MP3, and CG. D-Petey has been a pleasant surprise and it will be interesting to see if Soucy can find his form. I’m not sold on Demmer staying healthy, so the buck stops with Blankinen. I’m excited to see how Chytil and O’Connor adds another dimension to the offense. But if EP40 doesn’t play to his capabilities, it isn’t going to matter. Feeling better than a couple of weeks ago though.

I am more confident that they will make the playoffs.

The biggest difference for me has been their quality of play. They look like they can score off the rush. The games are much more entertaining. Most of their play this year had been unwatchable.

The team is much more entertaining to watch since the trades. Hopefully Tocchet will let the lines gel and find chemistry.

Yes, I am more confident the Canucks will make the playoffs. Team spirit seems higher. Team speed has improved. Demmer proved he can still be a top goalie, if he can stay healthy. Mostly, the D is vastly improved, with three instead of two legit top-four D. EP25 is a revelation. He has speed and can move the puck. When Hughes is back, Forbort and Soucy can concentrate on being third-pair D, which is where they fit best. Myers will have to be a top-four placeholder until Willander is ready. In the near future (next year?), the D should be Hughes-Hronek, Willander-M Pettersson, and EP 25 and Mancini, which looks pretty good to me.

The team is definitely different. A year ago, their offense was pretty formidable, but their defense was weak, now it’s the opposite. So much depends on Pettersson: if he can get back to the player he was two years ago, the Canucks have a good team. If not, they are going to struggle. Chytil staying healthy is also crucial. Lankinen has been more consistent than Silovs or DeSmith last year, too, so goaltending is probably stronger, especially if Demko is healthy for the playoffs.

Definitely more promising. It’s a strong reminder of the power of a team working in unison. They were that last year. Pre-JTM trade, they were not. Now, it seems to be improved, but I think there more time is needed to confirm.

Also, the fact that they’ve performed well without Hughes is HUGE. No JT, not Hughes, no problem.

JCanuck:
With the defense shored up and an injection of speed, the chances of making the playoffs went up significantly.

The questions will be EP first line production, where will Brock be and will Demmer stay healthy? These will determine how far the team goes in the playoffs.

Quinn sitting out 4 Nations will be a big key if he can get close to 100%.

While the scoring and faceoff proficiency is still nowhere near elite, the team has been far more competitive and far more enjoyable to watch since the trades. The D has gone from being anxiety-inducing to a quiet calm with the addition of MP29 and, to a lesser degree, EP25. The speed injection of Chytil and O’Connor have put opponents on notice that these aren’t the same Canucks that they met last. They’ve beaten two teams that are plus .500 teams and lost to another that they probably deserved to win. All this without their best player. Once Hughes steps back on the ice, they should be exponentially better. So yes, my opinion has gone from one of ‘no way this team makes the playoffs’ to one of ‘will they challenge for 3rd place in the division?’ That, to me, is a remarkable turnaround.

My opinion of the Canucks has not changed for this season. They’ve addressed their weaknesses at defense but they have a serious deficit in the middle. Their only credible faceoff man is Teddy Blueger and they don’t have a right-handed centre.

No change whatsoever .

Canucks should not be moving prospects and picks for rental players.

Canucks should be moving Boeser before the deadline

Canucks should either Sign Lankinen prior or trade him at the deadline

Canucks should extend Suter prior or trade him before the deadline.

Everyone wake up! This team is not a serious Cup contender, even if they manage to squeak in. Rentals are for teams on the cusp of a Cup. Build your stock, perhaps next season can be an all-in year.

At seasons start I thought the Canucks would finish the year in second in Pacific w 102 pts.

A few weeks ago I said they’d finish third in Pacific with 99 pts.

I’m sticking by that prediction — 99 pts.

Team sure looks better with the Millstone removed from their necks and more speed in the lineup.

Not really. There are still some shoes to drop (pending UFAs) and of course the ongoing Demko injury to consider.

The defence has been better and the team has played a much faster game, however scoring goals is still problematic. Trading Boeser (if that happens) leaves another hole that will need to be filled. What that will all look like is anyone’s guess.

I didn’t consider the Canucks a contender earlier this year and I don’t see any reason to change that evaluation. IMO the Canucks are still a couple of players away from being a couple of players away from contending.

Canucks were a fringe playoff team that would be one and done with lousy defenders before.

Now they are a fringe playoff team that will be one and done that doesn’t have a legit first line.