Welcome back to WDYTT, the only hockey column on the internet that always has an august air about it (referring to the archaic meaning of ‘august,’ that is, as in ‘impressive’ or ‘awe-inspiring.’

Speaking of August, however, as in the month, it’s almost at an end. By the time you read these words, there will be just scant days left in the final month of the summer, and just a matter of weeks to go until the Vancouver Canucks hit the ice once again.

As those dates approach, we’re switching gears toward predicting the 2025-26 season to come – and, here at WDYTT, that means you’re switching gears, too.

The Canucks didn’t have a great year in 2024-25, both on a team level and, for the most part, on an individual basis as well.

Of the many players who have been on the team for two years or longer now, only two saw their personal point total increase from 2023-24 to 2024-25: Conor Garland, who went from 47 to 50, and Pius Suter, who went from 29 to 46 (and then departed).

Everyone else saw their point totals go down, and some by significant margins.

It was the kind of campaign that, one hopes, was so bad it’d be difficult to replicate. When we say we’re fairly certain we won’t see another team-wide decrease in scoring, we’re not sure if it truly counts as optimism or just stating the odds.

Either way, we feel pretty confident that we can count on at least someone rebounding, and probably multiple individuals.

But whom? That’s where you step in.

This week, we’re asking:

Let it be known in the comment section.

You answered below!

Barring injury, a pretty simple answer.

Hughes-Hronek

M Petey-Myers

Ep2-Forbort

Mancini and possibly POJ as 7/8.

The only wild card here is either a trade or Willander forcing his way onto the roster.

Huggy, Hronek

Marcus, Myers

EP-D, Mancini

Hughes-Hronek

M Pettersson – Willander

E Pettersson – Myers

Forbort and POJ as extras

QH/Hronek

M Pettersson/Myers

Forbort/Willander

I think Mancini makes the starting lineup. Willander will need some AHL seasoning. Maybe not much though. He’s a smart player and skates very well.

Hughes-Hronek

MP-Myers

EP25-Mancini

Forbort-POJ

Ideally they let Willander get accustomed to the pro-level in the A for at least part of the season, and see what they have in Mancini. If Mancini proves reliable, that opens the door to a possible Hronek trade to upgrade the C. If EP25 continues to show well it would be nice to see them explore the option of moving MP, even if that seems unlikely given his recent extension.

I understand the desire to keep the D-core intact now that it’s an organizational strength, but the forward group is so painfully weak, especially down the middle, that there needs to be serious consideration of the idea of moving either Hronek or MP for a legitimate C upgrade.

Hughes – Mancini/Hronek

Marcus – Hronek/Mancini

D-Petey – Myers

The top-four seem pretty set. The bottom pairing will not be static through the season. Not sure which two will hit the ice in the first game. I do expect all of Mancini, EP25, and Willander will be on the opening day roster that gets filed with the league.

Start of season:

QH – Hronek

M Petey – Myers

Forbort – D Petey/Mancini

Mid season:

QH – Mancini

m Petey – Myers

Forbort – D Petey / Willander

(Hronek traded)

End of season:

QH – Mancini

M Petey – Myers.

D Petey- Willander

Hughes, Myers, Pettersson, and Hronek will be the top-four. I suspect Forbort (left side) and EP25 (right side) will round out the top-six. I believe Mancini and Willander will start in Abby (neither need waivers) and Joseph will be #7, assuming the Canucks choose to have seven D on the roster instead of eight.

Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek, Marcus Pettersson, Tyler Myers, Derek Forbort, and Elias Pettersson.

Change out with Mancini or Willander once we trade a D away for that elusive 2C.

Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, Zach Werenski, Victor Hedman, Josh Morrisey, Rasmus Dahlin.

I admit this may be difficult to engineer.

Barring any injuries incurred during the pre-season the starting six will be:

Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek, Marcus Pettersson, Tyler Myers, Derek Forbort, Elias Pettersson.

We have numerous options to start this season so it’s now time Hronek steps up.

I think the new coaches will look at Hughes on the first, Hronek and MP on the second, and Forbort on the third with a mix-and-match based on opposition, rotation, chemistry, and injury. The coaches have made it clear that they’re looking for more offence from their D, so Hronek has to split from Hughes for this to happen. Willander and Mancini may get auditions with Hughes. EP25 is a starter as well as Myers, but Willander, Mancini, and POJ are all in the picture. Their form at training camp will dictate who starts. Injuries and a trade during the season could alter things.

Guaranteed starters:

Hughes –

MP – Hronek

Forbort

Probable starters:

Hughes – Myers

MP – Hronek

Forbort – EP25

Possible finishers:

Hughes – Willander

MP – Mancini

EP25 – Myers

Forbort and/or Hronek traded. Myers won’t move.

Most likely:

Hughes – Hronek

MP – Myers

Forbort – EP25