Welcome back to WDYTT, the only hockey column on the internet that is constantly in its onseason.
Speaking of onseason, that’s a word we just invented. But ‘offseason’ already existed, and it’s happening right now for the Vancouver Canucks.
An NHL season is essentially a sequence of 82 individual events, and, if you’re lucky, a few more than that. An NHL offseason, however, comes down to just a handful of key events, and can tend to pass us by relatively quickly as a result – especially because so many of those events are jammed into a period of just a couple weeks.
The Stanley Cup Final is over, and that brings with it the unofficial start of summer trade season. The date of Friday, June 27 brings with it the first round of the NHL Entry Draft – though Canucks fans may find Day Two of the draft more entertaining, if they do end up parting with their own first rounder.
And then comes Canada Day, July 1, better known as the opening of the Free Agent Frenzy.
All that in the next fortnight or less. It can almost feel a little overwhelming, but we want to know what other feelings this time of year elicits.
Whether you want to answer for just yourself, or attempt to speak for the fanbase as a whole, this week we’re asking:
Which part of the offseason is most exciting to you as a Canucks fan?
Let it be known in the comment section.
Which current Canucks do you think will be traded this offseason?
You answered below!
Reubenkincade:
Who I think and who I want traded are two different scenarios, but #40, Demko, Sherwood, Garland, Höglander and Hughes should all be shipped out, as should Joshua, O’Connor, MPT, and Hronek.
Who will get traded: 2025 and 2026 first and second round picks.
CRobinson:
Lekkerimäki, Blueger, Mynio, and either Demko or Silovs.
RDster:
Should be Demko, but probably won’t be because this franchise likes to hold onto their fully depreciated assets.
kanucked:
I think Blueger gets traded.
Appleboy:
If they are going to get this team back to being a playoff team. There will need to be quite a few moves:
Hronek, Demko, Höglander.
Hockey Fan in Mexico:
Starting with one or the other: Silovs or Demko. My gut tells me Silovs. We may see Mancini on the move as well, but I hope not. On the big club, outside of Demko it’s tough as our D looks solid for a few a years to come and that is hard to build. We need centres and wingers so there may be some throw-ins like a Blueger if we get back some solid centres. I can’t see a lot moving off the D or forward corps. Most is going to come from the farm. Which is also why a trade has not triggered as of yet. Dominos will fall as soon as the Calder is awarded.
Kiwi Canuck:
If we keep getting comments like Garland gave regarding his future, then it’s anyone’s guess. Players can’t feel loyal to the team when there’s no certainty. If there’s no loyalty, then there’s no motivation. We need four top-six forwards.
Problem is we have no assets in which to get them…well, other than a spare goalie and some picks.
I’d prefer to go all-out and revamp this team in one off season…get it over and done with so we can establish a new beating heart…culture and family…then we have a chance.
It comes back to who are we building this team around? Hughes? If it is, then FO better have a 100% guarantee of commitment from him. But if he’s not, then EP25, Willander, Mancini, and Silovs are the future.
Who won’t they trade…Hughes and EP40.
Who shouldn’t they trade…Hughes, EP25, Willander, Mancini, Sherwood, Raty, Sasson, Karlsson, and any of our firsts.
Who would I like them to trade…EP40, MP, Hronek, Chytil, Hogz, Garland, Demko, Suter (I know he’s not signed yet), and Lekkerimäki.
Who will they probably trade…Lekkerimäki, Silovs, Chytil, Mynio, and picks.
Good luck!
M M:
Aman and Höglander will join a rebuild to fill up the roster until the rebuild is done.
Then they move on to Switzerland.
qh43:
The highest risk/highest reward is in Thatcher Demko. There is absolutely no starting goaltenders in the free agent market and that will make teams desperate. Demko is coming off a down/injury filled year. However he was the runner-up for the Vezina just the year before, I could think of a lot of teams that would be willing to pay up to have that sort of potential on their team. However, the Canucks should only trade him if they can get the right sort of package back. Would Buffalo throw J.J Peterka in a deal? Could they get someone like a Jason Robertson who seems to have fallen out of favour? Would someone give up a top-six centre or winger + forward prospect + pick? If there is a team that could put forward a package like that, I think the Canucks should seriously consider it. They have a glut of NHL and NHL-ready goaltenders, there is no way they should carry Demko, Lankinen, and Silovs together because they won’t be able to play them all a reasonable amount. Use the surplus to boost the weakness.
TeeJay:
(Winner of the author’s weekly award for eloquence)
I think there are no real untouchables on the roster but there are three who are the most likely to be moved based on roster construction.
First, Silovs: If Foote is meeting with the “core” and that includes Demko, then Silovs is likely out the door to avoid waiving him.
Second, Höglander: I think Garland or Hoggy will need to be moved, but I see Hoggy as the most likely based on his lower salary and the likelihood that he gets a better return.
Third, 15oa: The most obvious is the 15th overall pick.
54 years on…..?:
It’s almost impossible to make a call here one way or the other. This management group has been promising/threatening big moves, but what exactly that means is unclear.
At one point, it looked like Petey was moving and now they seem to be walking that back.
Hronek moving was also a “thing” at some point but that has gone very quiet.
Garland doesn’t appear to want to resign here and should be an automatic trade candidate, but we all know how this team loves it’s own “rentals.”
Blueger was on the block late last year, so it makes sense that he gets included as cap ballast.
Demko apparently wants to stay and if he re-signs that means Silovs goes. Can’t see the Canucks wanting to go with a Silovs/Lankinen tandem either.
That leaves minor leaguers and draft picks. Any and all of that are probably on the table. Although if they do trade Mancini, D Pete, or Willander, it will be a very regrettable decision.
Craig Gowan:
I see Höglander as likely to move in a trade, but if Garland declines an extension, I think he will the most likely Canuck to be traded.
Sammydevo:
It depends on how this management group views this roster. Are they being critical and realistic? Will they have the ability to really look at what this team is and make the necessary changes to get on track to be perennial playoff contender and challenge for the cup?
I was watching the Oilers/Panthers game yesterday and remarked to my buddy that the comparison between those teams and the Canucks was waaaaay apart.
My hope is that this team can make the smart choices for not only now, but to set up for the future, so patience is key and I’m not sure if they have that.
Tune in for The Sheet Draft Special, streaming live on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel on Friday, June 27th at 7 PM EST. Hosted by Jeff Marek, this live special will cover all the action from the 2025 Draft, including expert analysis of top prospects, team-by-team breakdowns, and real-time reactions to every pick. Whether you’re tracking your team’s future stars or just love the drama of draft night, this is your go-to destination for all things Draft.