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Speaking of rivalries, they’ve become a bit of a tricky topic as they pertain to the Vancouver Canucks of late.

Basically, it’s been getting harder and harder to nail down who exactly the Canucks rivals are right now. Sure, there’s always plenty of ill will between BC and Alberta, but the Calgary Flames are in a weird competitive spot right now, and the Edmonton Oilers are mixed up in loftier circles. Yes, the Oilers hate the Canucks, but that’s nothing compared to their feelings about the Florida Panthers right now.

The Seattle Kraken were supposed to arrive and become the Canucks’ natural, geographical rivalry. But they’ve been such a sad-sack expansion franchise that it’s hard to muster up anything more than a general dislike for them. Sure, the Kraken faithful may hate on the Canucks, but not in any way that could be taken seriously. (Did you know that, for a while, Tyler Myers was public enemy number one in Seattle? How funny is that?)

Some of the Canucks’ more historical rivals live on the East Coast, like the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs, so we’ll only see them a couple of times a year. That’s not the makings of a rivalry. Other major ire-drawers are of the type that are hated by just about everybody, like the Vegas Golden Knights, so it’s tough to label them as a true ‘Canuck rival.’

As we said, it’s a tricky question based on little more than trash talk and vibes. But who better to answer a question about the emotional pulse of disdain in this fanbase than the fanbase themselves?

This week, we’re asking:

Let it be known in the comment section.

Now that we (depending on when this drops, probably) know the real answer, your predictions are below!

It’s a difficult question for me to answer because of the injuries to the veterans in the preseason. Assuming Myers and Garland are healthy, I’m going with:

DeBrusk Pettersson Boeser

Kane Chytil Lekk

Sherwood Blueger Garland

Karlsson Räty O’Connor

Hughes Hronek

M Pettersson Myers

Forbort E Pettersson

Demko

Lankinen

Debrusk-EP40-Boeser

Kane-Chytil-Lekkerimäki

Garland-Cootes-Räty

O’Connor-Blueger-Sherwood

Hughes-Hronek

MPettersson-Myers

Forbort-E. Pettersson

Mancini

Demko

Lankinen

First of all, I don’t see how Cootes doesn’t get a chance, at this point he’s earned a few games and if it doesn’t work, no harm no foul. Putting him on a line with Räty gives him faceoff stability, and Garland could help continue the offence that he’s been showing through the preseason.

The only reason that Lekkerimäki is in the lineup is I simply don’t see any better options with Höglander out. Sherwood or Garland could certainly but giving Lekkerimäki the chance to start the season on a supportive line seems like a better use of the spot.

Obviously the top-four of the Canucks’ defence is basically set, however, contrary to popular opinion, I put D-Petey over Mancini for the final roster spot. Willander has been fine but he should be given more time to learn the pro game in the AHL. Mancini has been flashy and good offensively, but defensively D-Petey has been steadier, and we saw the offence last year he is capable. They are honestly interchangeable, but I think D-Petey will get the first look.

Jake DeBrusk-Elias Pettersson-Brock Boeser

Evander Kane-Filip Chytil-Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Max Sasson-Aatu Räty-Conor Garland

Drew O’Connor-Teddy Blueger-Kiefer Sherwood

Huggy-Hronek

Marcus-Myers

D-Petey-Mancini

Demko

Lankinen

Extra Fs: Nils Aman and Linus Karlsson

Extra D: Derek Forbort

No matter what it is, it is already looking stronger than any of the past five or six seasons.

One thing that is certain…whatever the Nucks looks like, not one team in the league will be intimidated…in fact, most teams will be licking their chops over a couple easy points.

I could see something like this on opening night, obviously Allvin has some work to do to get some of these players here and to convince their teams to retain cap.

I think this lineup has a real chance at winning a Cup. There are a few surprises here but most should be pretty obvious.

Jake DeBrusk – Connor McDavid – Brock Boeser

Evander Kane – Leon Draisaitl -Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Brad Marchand -Jack Hughes – Conor Garland

Tom Wilson -Sidney Crosby – Kiefer Sherwood

Quinn Hughes- Cale Makar

Luke Hughes- Tyler Myers

Dahlin -C. McAvoy

Thatcher Demko

Lankinen

Obviously I am jk, didn’t feel like rehashing the same lineups that we will see posted here several more times.

PP1: DeBrusk, Lekkerimäki, Boeser, Pettersson, Hughes.

PK1: Sherwood, Blueger, M. Pettersson, Forbort.

I don’t think we will be a good team and it’s too bad. I was hoping EP40 would be gone by now. I have very little faith in him. I am sure 43 will be gone by the deadline. Why would he sign here? The franchise is a tire fire.

Jake De Brusk-Elias Pettersson-Brock Boeser

Evander Kane-Filip Chytil-Garland

Max Sasson-Aatu Räty-Sherwood

Drew O’Connor-Teddy Blueger-Karlsson

Huggy-Hronek

M.P.3 -Myers

Forbort -Mancini

Demko

Lankinen

EXTRAS:

Nils Aman, Arsh Bains

Not sure who should be the extra D. Maybe P.O.J.

D-Petey should head to the A for seasoning and lots of playing time.

Lekk should also start in the A.

Let the kids develop and mature, don’t rush these guys. There is no way I’d have Cootes on the team; he’s playing well and got a taste, now let him develop.

I think Cootes has earned a couple Regular season games.

DeBrusk – EP40 – Brock

Kane – Chytil – Lekk

O’Connor – Blueger -Garland

Räty-Cootes- Sherwood.

extras: Karlsson, Bains. One slots in when Cootes returns to the Dub and Räty moves over to C.

Hughes – Hronek

MPetey – Myers

Forbort – DPetey

POJ

DeBrusk, EP40, Boeser,

Chytil, Garland, Kane,

O’Connor, Blueger, Sherwood

Höglander (IR), Räty, Karlsson

Extra: Bains

Hughes-Hronek

Pettersson, Myers

Forbort, EP25

Extra: Joseph

Demko, Lankinen

Cootes might make the team. If the Canucks carry a 23-player roster, Åman might make the team, at least until Höglander returns. Mancini or Willander might be on the team on D if they carry 8 D.

Opening night is against a weak opponent and an opportunity to get fans excited about the future. So I want a line up with prospects first game, but after the first game I want Cootes and Lekkerimäki sent down.

DeBrusk/Pettersson/Boeser

Räty/Chytil/Garland

Kane/Cootes/Lekkerimäki

OConnor/Blueger/Sherwood

Kane gives the young guys protection and space. Blueger/O’Connor need reps together as they are PK partners.

Hughes/Hronek

Pettersson/Myers

Forbert/Pettersson

Bench: Bains/Karlsson/Joseph

Nobody has to clear waivers with this line up. Two of Sasson/Bains/Karlsson/Labate replace Cootes and Lekkerimäki for the Blues game.

Jake DeBrusk – Elias Pettersson – Brock Boeser

Evander Kane – Filip Chytil – Jonathan Lekkerimäki

Arshdeep Bains – Aatu Raty – Conor Garland

Drew O’Connor – Braeden Cootes [9 games only] – Kiefer Sherwood

Press box: Teddy Blueger [until Cootes back to Jr, then 4C] – Max Sasson

Quinn Hughes – Filip Hronek

Marcus Pettersson – Tyler Myers

D-Petey – Victor Mancini

Press box: Derek Forbort

Thatcher Demko

Kevin Lankinen

Best fourth line in the NHL!! I think Bains has not been getting the credit he deserves – playing very well defensively, and being a great playmaker as well (2A tonight), making everyone around him (like Sasson) look good. Karlsson has been ok, but not better than those listed on the roster. If the Canucks’ PK can survive with Cootes playing, and with Blueger in the press box, then Cootes may stick around longer? Forbort has looked decent as well, and for me the only swap I’d make for him would be taking Myers out. D-Petey played a game at RHD and looked good there as well, so could fill that spot, while Forbort pairs with Mancini.