Welcome back to WDYTT, the only hockey column on the internet where being columned on a weekly basis is a downright guarantee.

Speaking of guarantees, there aren’t many to be offered when it comes to the Vancouver Canucks these days. In fact, if the Canucks were to be any property in the Marvel Cinematic Universe right now, they’d definitely be What If…?, because that’s the only real question being asked about the team right now.

What if…Elias Pettersson bounces back?

What if…Thatcher Demko returns to health?

What if…Evander Kane rebounds in his hometown?

What if…Filip Chytil never gets another concussion?

What if…the Abbotsford Canucks can roll their winning ways into the NHL?

The Canucks have potential for success in 2025/26, but that potential is anything but concrete, and no one should feel all that comfortable predicting it.

But one area where Canucks fans often feel all too comfortable predicting success? When it comes to departing players. We heard plenty of this in the past week as Arturs Silovs was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a song, and a number of fans, understandably, shared their dismay.

We don’t know yet how well Silovs will play in Pittsburgh, or whether he’ll be able to wrest the starter’s reins from Tristan Jarry. But if he does, just know we’re going to be hearing about it for a long, long time.

Which brings us to our topic for today. Let’s extend our lens to the past 365 days. Over the past year, the Canucks have seen a number of notable departures, including Silovs, JT Miller, and Pius Suter, as well as other notable names such as Carson Soucy, Danton Heinen, and Noah Juulsen.

Our question today is pretty simple, and it’s a prognostication as to which of the departed Canucks is going to have the most success elsewhere from here on out.

This week, we’re asking:

Let it be known in the comment section.

You answered below!

If both don’t have good years, the Canucks are in some trouble. Demko doesn’t need to bounce back, he needs to stay healthy. Flip a coin.

Canucks do nothing without a productive EP40. It’s never been clear if his issues were more physical or mental. Predictions on the level of information available are just guesses.

Injuries are unpredictable…without injuries, Demko is most likely to bounce back…but given his injury history, it is a low probability that he will go injury-free this season.

Pettersson should be able to arrest the steep decline in points, but will he be able to get back to 100 points, which is the level he is paid to achieve?

This may be more probable than Demko going injury-free, but I would put it still at less than 50/50.

In summary, Demko likely to bounce back but not last the season…Pettersson likely to improve, but not get back to 100 points.

Pettey. There is a chance Petey will have a relapse of his chronic tendonitis in 2025/26, whereas Demko has only been able to start 106 games in the past three seasons – only 35 starts a year –  Demko’s best work is almost surely behind him at this point.

Demko will have the biggest bounce back.

Not because I think so, but because I hope so. The Canucks’ team save percentage last year was a mediocre .886. If they can get that over .905, it will mean 17% fewer goals against and a lot more wins.

And it’s doable. Demko and Lankinen have career save percentages of .910 and .904, respectively.

I am more worried about Petey. He has nowhere to hide, and will be hard matched. That alone could spell trouble for him, even if he gets his game back. He’ll need more touches on the PP. That will be up to the coaches.

If Demmer gets his game back, he has a much better D to support him. The only worry is possession. If we are getting hammered 60/40 on possession and O-zone time, Demmer will need to go bubble mode.

Ultimately, gotta go with Demmer. The goalie has more of his perceived performance resting on his own play.

I dont have confidence in either one. The one I’m really curious about is Kane. How will he perform now that’s he’s in the place he wants to be.

Health is a big issue. If both are 100% and stay healthy, yes. Chronic injuries can end careers. Big thing about injuries is being unable to train in the offseason.

From a performance perspective, it’s Petey who needs to bounce back. When he’s healthy, Demko has nothing to bounce back from in terms of his performance. I am hoping and praying the Canucks will let Lankinen play lots of games, so Demko can sustain a healthy season. I think Foote will get that. Demko also has reportedly incorporated some new training methods that may help. With Petey, it is more complicated. We’re not sure what the problem is. Is it psychological? I suspect so. Was he out of shape last year? I think so. One way or another, he seemed to play with no confidence. I am unclear how to fix that. I’d bet on Demko being more likely to have a “bounce back” year.

I’d be happy to be proven wrong, but I’m inclined to say Demko.

He’s got a talented backup so can rest often, a new training regime etc. I have complete faith his issues were injuries and I’m a big believer in physio.

Petey… Maybe/hopefully it’s a wild coincidence that his play declined about the minute he signed his contract. I’ve never seen anyone in the organization think his injuries were particularly serious, so I really think it’s mental/effort. (If you were guaranteed $70 million or whatever, would you really bust yourself every day, go to the corners to get hit by a 200lb monstrosity when you could just… Not?) Though, in my eyes, a strong bounceback by Petey would include a playoffs where he doesn’t play like I would (afraid of getting murdered in the corners by giants on skates.)

I hope I’m wrong because while we have a strong backup goalie, we don’t have another 1C.

Both should have been moved, and IMO both are responsible for the failure this popsicle stand is… both will fall flat on their face… do not get your hopes up, kiddies, major suckage for 2025/2026 season coming right up which clearly justifies higher ticket prices…

Petey will silence the anti-nuck fans, and if Demko is 100% healthy, there is nothing to bounce back from.

The Canucks’ blueline is a lot better than it was two years ago, so obviously the chances of Demko bouncing back to form is way better than Pettersson’s chances of being a 100-point player again.

Expect Demko to bounce back with a stronger D in front of him and capable Lankinen to play many games. Deep down, hoping Petey bounces back, but that could be a pipe dream.