The 2025-26 NHL season will be a hot war in the Pacific Division. Still, early projections and expert analysis suggest that the Vancouver Canucks will finish higher in the standings than their division rivals, the Los Angeles Kings.
While both franchises have made big offseason moves, it is the Canucks who are poised to stir things up and emerge as a power to be feared in the West. But which team will finish higher this season?
Quinton Byfield, the human highlight reel 👑 pic.twitter.com/Sn8FcPQzkV
— NHL (@NHL) August 25, 2025
Rising Momentum in Vancouver
The Canucks are approaching the season with more optimism, led by a rich roster featuring Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, and talented goaltender Thatcher Demko. Vancouver is predicted to place third in the Pacific Division by experts at The Hockey Writers, with a bold prediction that the team has an equal chance of fighting for second place if its defense and goaltending hold up.
The Canucks' depth in offense gives them the advantage, provided Pettersson maintains his top-level scoring and Hughes anchors the blue line as one of the top blueliners in the league. Vancouver's most significant question mark is consistency, however.
However, after re-entering playoff relevance in recent years, the Canucks now appear to be entering their window of contention and are, therefore, a serious threat in the Pacific.
Kings Staying Competitive but Faced With Challenges
The Los Angeles Kings are no strangers to playoff hockey, and their recipe for success has never been about making blockbuster additions, but rather about depth and internal development. However, this offseason, the Kings made more nuanced moves than just headline additions.
For this reason, most pundits have them trailing Vancouver in the Pacific by just a point now. While the Kings' competitiveness and miserly defense remain in place, the consensus is that their current lineup doesn't possess the same amount of top-end firepower as some other Western contenders.
The Kings' success will thrive on four players: Quinton Byfield, Andre Kuzmenko, Darcy Kuemper, and Brandt Clarke. If LA gets all of these guys A-games, the Kings will be just as good as they were last season, but that all depends on how they're coached through the season.
Up to the challenge 💪@DooleyLAK spoke with Clarkie about preparing for the season ahead 📝📲 https://t.co/ThbFWCtHa6#GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/rM3EJTQykf
— LA Kings (@LAKings) August 28, 2025
Head-to-Head Edge Favors Canucks
As much as the Kings vs. Canucks are concerned, these are meant to be a series that will heavily influence the Pacific Division standings. Vancouver's potent offense will test the Kings' defensive adjustments, and Los Angeles' playoff experience and depth could ultimately be the difference-maker in tight, low-scoring games.
Recent encounters between these two teams have only strengthened Vancouver's case. Last season, the two teams met three times, and the Canucks won the series 2-1, including a marquee February 2025 encounter.
Vancouver defeated Los Angeles in overtime, showcasing its toughness and ability to deliver under pressure. Statistically, the Canucks and Kings have remained balanced over recent seasons, but Vancouver's rising trajectory and offseason moves provide it with the lift it requires in 2025-26.
Verdict: Canucks Slightly Favored
Both teams can finish in the top half of the Pacific, but most initial projections have the Vancouver Canucks for the year 2025–26. Hughes' dominant defense and Demko taking over the crease space give Vancouver the balance to finish third in the division. At the same time, the Kings are expected to finish third or fourth, depending on how their defense performs.
Of course, hockey doesn't always go as planned. If the Kings' young star players can step up in the regular season and stay healthy, Los Angeles could turn the script around. But heading into the season, the Canucks look a little bit stronger on paper and should finish higher than their division rivals.