Every season, at least one NHL team endures a “season from hell.” Certainly, the Vancouver Canucks would agree, based on all that went down during their horrific 2024–25 campaign. Then again, based on their current collection of centers, the Canucks are tempting fate yet again.
With both J.T. Miller (traded to the NY Rangers) and Pius Suter (who’s decided faraway fields—or at least bank accounts—are greener) playing elsewhere this year, names like Chytil, Raty, and Blueger hardly strike fear into the hearts of Western Conference opponents.
Granted, the Miller trade was unavoidable. It was only a matter of time before the often-crabby Miller punched out the enigmatic Elias Pettersson during or after a team workout. And with two guys named Elias Pettersson on the team, it’s possible Miller might have decked the wrong one. So he had to go.
Suter’s exit (to St. Louis) was likely the result of financial limitations, mismatched salary expectations, organizational changes behind the bench, and his desire for a winning environment.
Beyond the upcoming season, should former trade-aholic (and current president) Jim Rutherford and his front-office team remain curiously gun-shy, the Canucks may end up stuck in the murky middle—not good enough to contend, not bad enough to access top draft picks—for years to come.
Speaking of the Left Coast, it makes you wonder how often American-based hockey fans secure tickets for an upcoming Vancouver visit and then ask out loud, “What’s a Canuck anyway?”
