Welcome back to WDYTT, the only hockey column on the internet that will never, ever change.
Speaking of change, some say it’s inevitable. When it comes to hockey rosters, they’re probably right. And when it comes to the hockey roster of the Vancouver Canucks, well, let’s go ahead and call that a guarantee.
The Canucks’ 2025 offseason has already technically begun. But we all know that the real offseason doesn’t begin until all the other teams are finished their seasons, too. That date is coming soon. The Stanley Cup Finals should be over, or close to it, by the time next week’s column is published, and that’s the point at which stuff should really start to happen.
For the Canucks, the action should come fast and furious. Word on the street is that they’ve got trades to make, and the likelihood of those trades involving their current first-round draft pick means that they’ll probably have to go down before the June 27 draft.
Then comes the draft itself, and a few days later, the opening of the Free Agent Frenzy on July 1.
It’s going to be a lot of movement in a short period of time. And this might be our last chance to squeeze in a prediction or two before it all goes down.
With the draft becoming perhaps a less interesting date for the Canucks in the very near future, it makes sense to focus on the trades for now.
We’ve been covering a litany of trade targets for Vancouver to pursue on CanucksArmy throughout the early offseason thus far. What we want to talk about today is those individuals who might be going the other way, or elsewhere in other deals. What we want to talk about today are the players who might not still be here by the time the 2025/26 hits ‘go.’
This week, we’re asking:
Which current Canucks do you think will be traded this offseason?
Let it be known in the comment section.
Which prospect will make the largest impact on the 2025/26 Vancouver Canucks roster?
You answered below!
Jon0:
It’s hard to argue against D-Petey. I expect there will be lots of opposing NHL players who feel his impact this upcoming season.
defenceman factory:
Mancini and EP25. Big, fast, young and a little mean. This is how you build a D-corps.
BigBA:
With the Foote hiring, this tells me that Francesco is going all-in again, so we shouldnt expect to see any prospects on the big team next season.
D-Petey is probably the one that could have a chance to play here, and be okay-to-good.
Craig Gowan:
I believe Willander will eventually be the prospect who makes the biggest impact in the next few years, but for 2025/26, I think it will be EP25.
Kearnsie:
Klimovich has entered the chat.
Hockey Bunker:
D-Petey and Mancini, for sure, but I will go out on a limb and say Silovs, who will take the starter’s job by March, and Aatu Räty, if we still consider he is a prospect at this stage of his career.
He will be #3 centre and faceoff specialist.
RagnarokOroboros:
(Winner of the author’s weekly award for eloquence)
I think D-Petey will have the most impact next year. I think he was playing great and gaining confidence; though it may be a bit crowded on the left side with the re-signing of Forbort. D-Petey has the potential to become the next Zadorov; a mean nasty player that makes players pay for touching the puck. I think he will become a fan favorite.
Willander is a bit of an unknown. He could possibly take off, but I suspect he will get a a few games and then be sent to the AHL for seasoning.
Mancini will probably make the jump as the third line right side pairing.
Aatu Räty will make the team full time next year, probably as the 3rd or 4th line centre. His excellent faceoff abilities and the lack of centres on the Canucks team guarantees him opportunities. I think he will do well but not blow anyone away.
Linus Karlsson looks excellent, but I think he is a third line player at best. Reminds me of Di Giuseppe but with maybe more potential.
Fozzy Bear:
For me, top-three will be Mancini, D-Petey, and Räty for sure, throw in an honorable mention for Sasson.
Jibsys:
I am going with “Player to be Named Later,” and by that I mean that it will be someone who comes in via the trade route.
I think Lekkerimaki, Sasson, Raty, D-Petey, and Mancini, among others, will see a fair bit of playing time, but I am not counting on any of them to make much of an impact.
Rather, I could see a route where they make a trade for a prospect that a deeper team would otherwise lose on waivers, which would mean that player would have to remain with the team and have the opportunity to make some degree of an impact.
RDster:
Good question. D-Pettey is behind Huggy, Pettersson, and Forbort but he will be steady when he gets his chance, Willander is so young, I expect he spends most of his time in Abby this season. Lekkerimaki might not be ready for a fulltime NHL, so I have to go with Aatu Räty.
Hawks Pass:
Being EP25 has already had a positive impact and I expect him to get better as he matures, I’m going with Mancini to have a very positive impact next season. He’s going to come to camp full of confidence after his playoff run this season. He handles the puck so well and is a great skater. Hopefully the older he gets, the meaner he gets.
HaarpoonWave:
Klimovich would be fine in the bottom-six, and will play a better NHL game than he does in the AHL.
He will be more effective with NHL players, and could become a threat on the power play.
Hockey Fan in Mexico:
I would put money on Mancini. He has the best shot to play consistent minutes, in a position of need. He has an NHL-ready body. His play looks like boys versus men this playoffs. Size, speed, and hockey acumen in a position of need.
JCanuck:
I wish it would be Johnny Lekk, but I believe Willander will eventually will love up to second pair D-man with MP.
Stephan Roget:
I’ll go against the grain here and say ‘Jonathan Lekkerimäki.’
Sounds weird when he’s currently a healthy scratch for the Abbotsford Canucks in the playoffs, but it’s all about opportunity. The Canucks will have at least one opening in their top-six, and maybe two. There are very few prospects who even profile to get a shot at that job, and Lekkerimäki is the only one in the organization anywhere close to built for it.
He’ll get a look there, at the very least. If he has a productive enough offseason to seize the chance, then it’s his, and I think he’ll have more of an opportunity there to make an immediate impact in 2025/26 than do the defenders fighting for minutes on the blueline.
Sponsored by bet365