Rebuilding Vancouver Canucks seek a new foundation as NHL season begins

The Vancouver Canucks are entering a rebuild after finishing last in the NHL standings, with success now measured by more than wins and losses. Rookie head coach Manny Malhotra said at training camp in Penticton, B.C., that the club must limit repeated mistakes and become difficult to play against through system intensity, puck battles and races.

The Canucks open their season Tuesday against the Oilers in Edmonton. Defenceman Zeev Buium said players remain driven to win, but effort matters in defeat: losing because a team did not work hard is unacceptable, while some losses simply come from being beaten by an opponent.

Vancouver finished last season 25-49-8 after early injuries and a trade that sent captain and star defenceman Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild for Buium, forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, and a first-round draft pick. General manager Patrik Allvin was fired the day after the club ended its season with a 6-1 loss to Edmonton, while president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford stepped down weeks later.

Ownership named Daniel and Henrik Sedin co-presidents of hockey operations and promoted Ryan Johnson from general manager of the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks to lead the NHL club. The new leadership dismissed Adam Foote after one season as head coach and hired Malhotra, who guided Abbotsford to a championship in 2025. Johnson also added veterans Brendan Gallagher and Luke Schenn during the summer.

The Canucks will look for young players to earn NHL roster spots and for established scorers to rebound. Elias Pettersson had 15 goals and 51 points last season, Brock Boeser recorded 22 goals and 48 points, and Jake DeBrusk had 23 goals and 42 points. Pettersson said the club's coaching and emerging standards could still allow it to surprise observers.

Vancouver is expected to begin without goalie Thatcher Demko, who played only 20 games last season before season-ending hip surgery in late January. The 30-year-old went 8-10-1 with a 2.90 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. He attended camp but did not practise with the main groups, and Johnson said there is no timetable for his return.

Buium, 20, signed an eight-year, US$75-million extension this summer after posting six goals and 26 points between the Canucks and Wild last season. The San Diego native said he wants to show he is worthy of the contract through a consistent daily game and help move the organization toward its goals.