Pacific Primer: The Vancouver Canucks add on the wings as they look to make a deeper playoff push in 2024-25

It’s time to preview the Pacific Division with Pacific Primer. As usual, the Flames will be playing these teams four times in 2024–25 (with the exception of the Oilers who they’ll only play three times). In Pacific Primer, we are going to take a look at the moves made by each team this offseason. Then, we’ll take a look at how they stack up against the Flames.

This Pacific Primer will be focused on the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks had an epic 2023-24 regular season before losing in round two to the Edmonton Oilers in game seven. The Canucks had a busy off-season extending some key players in Filip Hronek and Dakota Joshua, but they lost some, too. Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov both packed their bags and went to Boston. In return, the Canucks grabbed Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, and Derek Forbort from the Bruins in free agency. In adding some good role players and taking some swings on the wings, the Canucks look like a surefire playoff team again. The only hold-up is goaltending. The health of Thatcher Demko was a question in the playoffs and it remains a question now.

Offseason moves:

Trades

• Traded LW Ilya Mikheyev, the signing rights to RW Sam Lafferty, and a 2027 2nd round draft pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 2027 4th round draft pick.
• Traded LW Vasily Podkolzin to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a 2025 4th round draft pick.

RFAs

• Re-signed RD Filip Hronek to a 8-year, 7.25M AAV deal.
• Re-signed G Arturs Silovs to a 2-year, 850K AAV deal.

UFAs

• Signed LW/RW Jake DeBrusk to a 7-year, 5.5M AAV deal.
• Re-signed LW Dakota Joshua to a 4-year, 3.25M AAV deal.
• Re-signed RD Tyler Myers to a 3-year, 3M AAV deal.
• Signed LW Danton Heinen to a 2-year, 2.25M AAV deal.
• Signed RD Vincent Desharnais to a 2-year, 2M AAV deal.
• Signed RW Kiefer Sherwood to a 2-year, 1.5M AAV deal.
• Signed LD Derek Forbort to a 1-year, 1.5M AAV deal.
• Signed RW Daniel Sprong to a 1-year, 975K AAV deal.

Mock Lineup

In adding some new wingers, the Canucks have a pretty deep forward core. Sprong is a wild card, as he has thrived in lower lineup spots and high powerplay time. Heinen also gives them a solid scoring option in the bottom-six. DeBrusk should finally give Pettersson a solid winger option to play off of. It’s not the best forward group out there, but they have the guys available for certain spots in the lineup. Pettersson, Miller, and Boeser form a great forward core to build around. The Canucks get the win against the Flames here.

Two words. Quinn. Hughes. The additions of Forbort and Desharnais don’t move the needle much. But, Hughes is one of the best defenceman in the league. Hronek slid as the season went along, so the Canucks will hope he rebounds after signing a big extension. Carson Soucy is a great piece. I don’t love the Canucks running it back with Tyler Myers in their top four. Like their forward group, it’s not the best in the league, but it’s real solid. Especially at the top. The Canucks get the win here as well.

If Demko is healthy, this is an easy win for the Canucks. If he’s not, it becomes a toss-up of unknowns. All signs point to Demko playing, but likely not as much as previous seasons. Demko, like Vancouver, likely takes a step back compared to 2023-24. The Canucks had a record of 3-1 against the Flames last year. I think they’ll still win the season series against the Flames relatively easily, but with some regression expected I don’t think they’ll win by that much again.