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After a last-place NHL finish, the Vancouver Canucks enter a rebuild with new coach Manny Malhotra, emphasizing player development and culture over immediate wins.
The Vancouver Canucks, after finishing last in the NHL standings, have entered a rebuild where progress is measured beyond wins and losses. The team opens the new season against the Edmonton Oilers in Edmonton on Tuesday with a new coaching staff and front office, led by rookie head coach Manny Malhotra. The organization is focusing on playing a hard-to-play-against style and building a competitive culture.
Vancouver Canucks Rebuild Focuses on Progress
Vancouver finished the previous campaign with a 25-49-8 record, prompting a major overhaul. General manager Patrik Allvin was fired a day after the season ended with a 6-1 loss to the Oilers, and president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford stepped down weeks later. Ownership brought in local legends Daniel and Henrik Sedin as co-presidents of hockey operations, and Ryan Johnson was elevated from GM of the AHL affiliate Abbotsford Canucks to GM of the NHL club.
The new management fired head coach Adam Foote after one season and replaced him with Malhotra, another former Canuck who guided Abbotsford to a championship title in 2025. Malhotra emphasized that losing games and playing losing hockey are different, pointing to mistake frequency and intangibles like intensity, tenacity, and puck battles as keys to winning.
Defenceman Zeev Buium agreed that there is a way to lose, stating that not working hard is unacceptable but sometimes you just get beat. The Canucks got beat often last season, especially after trading captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild for Buium, forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, and a first-round draft pick. The team also dealt with early-season injuries.
New Coaching Staff and Roster Changes
Over the summer, Johnson added NHL veterans like former Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher and journeyman defenceman Luke Schenn to guide young talent. Players at training camp praised the new atmosphere. Rossi said the group is hungry and excited, while goalie Kevin Lankinen noted positive vibes and high standards under Malhotra, who is intense but fair.
The Canucks will look for up-and-coming talent to earn roster spots and for established players to rebound. Scoring could be an issue if Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, and Jake DeBrusk struggle again. Pettersson had 15 goals and 51 points last season, Boeser had 22 goals and 48 points, and DeBrusk had 23 goals and 42 points. Pettersson expressed confidence that with good coaching and standards, the team could surprise people.
Injury Concerns and Player Development
Vancouver is expected to start the season without star goalie Thatcher Demko, who was limited to 20 appearances last season and underwent season-ending hip surgery in late January. He went 8-10-1 with a 2.90 goals-against average and .897 save percentage. The 30-year-old American was at training camp but did not participate with main groups, and Johnson said there is no timeline for his return.
Buium, who has yet to play a full NHL season, signed an eight-year, US$75-million extension this summer. The 20-year-old from San Diego, Calif., recorded six goals and 26 points between the Canucks and Wild last season. He said he is eager to prove worthy of the contract by staying consistent through highs and lows.
As the rebuild begins, the Canucks are prioritizing development and competitiveness over immediate standings gains, with a focus on building a sustainable winning culture.
Vancouver Canucks Manny Malhotra NHL Rebuild Zeev Buium Thatcher Demko Patrik Allvin Elias Pettersson
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