Throughout a tumultuous 2024–25 season, the Vancouver Canucks saw 18 new players join their lineup via trade, AHL call-up, or free agency. 14 of these players remained with the team until the end of the regular season. During the team’s year-end media availability, some of these players reflected on their experiences with the team. 

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Jake DeBrusk signed a five-year contract with the Canucks on July 1, 2024. He ended the season as the team’s leading goal scorer with 28 in 82 games. This marks a new career high for him, despite occasionally going through some cold stretches. 

“It was a pretty crazy one,” he said of his first year in Vancouver. “There’s lots of things that happened throughout the whole season. The first year here, these guys used everything there’s some highs and lows. But at the same point, you know, I think that obviously you don’t get to the playoffs. I think that’s my game plan was to try to help win. And, you know, unfortunately, we’re sitting here talking.” 

Another free-agent signing who reached career-highs in his first year with the Canucks was Kiefer Sherwood, who will be a free agent come the end of the 2025–26 season. Sherwood broke both personal, franchise, and league records this season. He scored a career-high of 19 goals, including his first NHL hat trick, and had his first 40-point season. As well, he smashed hit record after hit record, ultimately setting a new NHL high in hits made in one season with 462. 

“Just that it’s been a lot of ups and downs. I think emotionally, spent a lot this season dealing with, you know, all the adversity that our team faced, but I think as players, you just try to go about your business, put one foot in front of the other, and take it day by day. Always just trying to find the next game or next opportunity to kind of grow yourself and build something special here,” he said during his season-ending media availability. 

Despite some of the drama and disappointment of this season, Sherwood is optimistic about what 2025–26 has in store. “We’ve got a lot of things that we’re looking forward to. We faced so much stuff this year and we were right on the brink of playoffs. Overall, I think it sucks to not be in the playoffs, but we’re in a good spot because the fire in our belly is probably gonna get a little bit bigger this summer. And I think everyone can look in the mirror and be a little bit more accountable and figure out where we’re gonna be better moving forward. And I think we’re gonna take a couple steps next year.” 

One of the team’s most important players throughout the season, Kevin Lankinen was signed by the Canucks on September 21, 2024. He went on to play in 51 of the team’s 82 games, posting 25 wins and four shutouts. His impressive play throughout the first half of the season resulted in him signing a five-year contract with Vancouver on February 21 — exactly five months after his first contract was inked. 

“It was a great experience,” Lankinen said of his first season with the Canucks. “I loved my time here and obviously, going back to the summer, my goal was to find a place where I can showcase myself as the number one goalie. I was fortunate to get the opportunity here, and yeah, just really liked how everything worked out, and pretty happy with the season.” 

Elias Pettersson (D) was the first of two new Petterssons to enter the Canucks’ lineup this season. The defender was picked 80th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft and made his NHL debut on January 25, 2025 against the Washington Capitals. He was one of six Abbotsford Canucks to make their NHL debut this season. 

“Great experience for me. I think I learned a lot this year,” he said. 

The next Pettersson, Marcus Pettersson, ended up in Vancouver following the J.T. Miller trade on January 31. Vancouver shipped two other new Canucks, Danton Heinen and Vincent Desharnais, back to the Pittsburgh Penguins in return. After an impressive couple of games, the elder Pettersson was signed to a six-year, $5.5M AAV contract extension on February 5 — five days after he was acquired.  

“I came into a locker room that wants to win. The care factor from all the guys is right there. Everybody loves each other and wants to push each other. So I think we have a young group, still very young group, and I think we can learn about from this year on and off the ice, and if we can learn and grow from that, but I think we’re in a great spot.” 

Accompanying Pettersson from Pittsburgh was Drew O’Connor, who also impressed with his speed and heavy forecheck early on. Like his Penguins teammate, O’Connor also signed an extension with the Canucks at the beginning of his time with Vancouver. He signed his new two-year, $2.5M AAV deal on February 18, 2025. 

“It’s been good. I’ve enjoyed the group here,” O’Connor said of his first few games with the Canucks. “Obviously, it’s been a little bit up and down the last little while, and we’d obviously like to be in playoffs, so I think we’re all pretty motivated through the summer to make that happen. But it’s been a great little while here that I enjoyed.” 

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The big day is finally here.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin today, Saturday.

The Colorado Avalanche will play a best-of-seven series against the Dallas Stars. During last year’s playoff run, the Avalanche faced the Stars in the Conference Semi-Finals and lost the series in six games.

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However, the Avalanche has had a favorable playoff history against the Stars. They have a record of 19-18 overall. The Stars having home ice doesn’t matter too much, as the Avalanche have an 11-8 record on the road.

During last year’s playoffs, they went 2-1 on the road against the Stars. The Avalanche will look to continue that luck on the road. However, they will have to do that against former teammate Mikko Rantanen.

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Rantanen spoke to reporters present during their Friday practice ahead of Game One. He talked about many things, including what it’s like to face his old team for the first time in the playoffs.

“It’s business, the trade didn’t happen two days ago,” Rantanen said. “It’s been a while now since I haven’t played with the Avs anymore. It’s been three months.”

“I think it’s all behind us. Now it’s just part of a new team and I’m excited and (it’s) time to execute.”

Rantanen spoke about how the two teams line up and pointed out the deep roster that both teams have.

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“I think they (Colorado) have depth too,” Rantanen reasoned. “It’s two deep teams. If you look at the four lines, they’re all pretty evenly matched out, a lot of good players.”

“Both have a good D-core, and two good goalies.”

In terms of how difficult it will be to face his old team, Rantanen had this to say.

“Second time is always easier than the first time, in everything in life,” Rantanen said. “It’s one of those situations where I think it was a good thing to get that game out of the way and it was a regular season game, now it’s all business.”

If Rantanen is right, fans of the Avalanche and Stars are in for a treat of a series.

“I think it’s a really good matchup for fans to watch.”

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The Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks finished at the bottom of the NHL this season, but both have plenty of great young talent and are working to become contenders for a long time. That isn't going to be a short journey and each needs the right pieces. There seems to be some higher thinking going on ahead of the draft lottery to help the Sharks get there.

Sheng Peng reported that Sharks' GM Mike Grier said he is willing to entertain offers for the first overall pick in the 2025 draft if San Jose were to win it. The Sharks drafted Macklin Celebrini last year and could very well move back for a little extra.

If #SJSharks get the No. 1 pick, Grier says he's more willing to entertain offers for it than last year.

Not that he's giving it away, he'd be looking for a Herschel Walker/Ricky Williams-type offer.

"At the top, after Schaefer, it's probably more forward-heavy."

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 18, 2025

While moving back a few spots in the draft is a more likely possibility to get some extra value, the Blackhawks, who may pick right behind the Sharks this season in the draft could offer up an interesting trade.

Teams may be focusing on how to move up in this draft with their current picks and players, but the Sharks may be intrigued by an offer that includes the Blackhawks' unprotected first round pick next season. Chicago isn't expected to be much better next season, so they should still have a shot at winning the draft lottery again next year.

This would give the Blackhawks two assumed top-4 picks in the 2025 draft to progress the rebuild quicker and the Sharks would get two shots at Gavin McKenna next year. The Blackhawks would of course love to draft McKenna as well, but it's a percentage game and nothing is for certain.

The only problem I potentially see with the Blackhawks having the first and possibly second overall picks this season is that Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman, is widely regarded as the best player in the draft. Chicago doesn't need any more defensemen with Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, Kevin Korchinski, Alex Vlasic, Ethan Del Mastro, Nolan Allan, Wyatt Kaiser, and even Louis Crevier.

While it wouldn't make a ton of sense to draft Schaefer, it is best to draft the best player available and work things out later. I think it could be a possibility since Michael Misa and James Hagens are there, but also a shot at McKenna next year for the Blackhawks may just be too good to pass up. A 1-2 punch of McKenna and Connor Bedard would more than likely lead to a Stanley Cup down the line.

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