What Does the Future of the Canucks Look Like?
After the conclusion of a disappointing season for the Vancouver Canucks, the future of several players and coaches affiliation with the team has come into question. The Canucks started the season with hopes of another playoff run after making it last season. However, after locker room drama, season ending injuries, and subpar performances from players, the season ended earlier than anyone had hoped for. Now that the Canucks offseason has begun, it’s time to take a look at what the team may look like going into the 2025-2026 season.
With the beyond disappointing season, fans have called into question the future of head coach Rick Tocchet with the Canucks. Many people have been hoping that Tocchet wouldn’t return for another season after Vancouver failed to secure a spot in playoffs, seeing that it was time for a change. However, it looks unlikely that Tocchet doesn’t sign on for a contract extension. Canucks captain Quinn Hughes told the media that he believed in Tocchet’s structuring and coaching, saying with a few additions to the team and sharpening up on the skills of current players, they can land exactly where they want to be. So while a new head coach for the Canucks may have been a likely switch at some point in the season, the confidence from key players in Tocchet makes him leaving seem highly unlikely. The 2025-2026 season will likely see Tocchet behind the bench once again.
The Canucks have several players who may or may not be signing a contract extension after the conclusion of this season. The biggest one in talks right now is Brock Boeser. Rumors of Boeser being traded started flying just before the trade deadline, however, nothing landed, and he stayed with Vancouver through the end of the season. Since then, Boeser has opened up about how it has become increasingly apparent that he and the Canucks are unlikely to reach an agreement on a contract, making it unlikely that we see Boeser signing on to the Canucks again. Derek Forbort is also becoming a free agent this summer. Forbort has been an impressive addition to the lineup and has done well on the team so far. While a long term contract extension seems unlikely, seeing Forbort back on the ice in Vancouver for next season seems to be a likely scenario. Another unrestricted free agent for the Canucks is Pius Suter. Suter has been a reliable and worthy addition to the team. He has proved to be a versatile player that knows how to score in a timely manner to bring the team to an advantage in any game. A contract extension for Suter looks extremely likely.
The only restricted free agent coming out of this season is Nils Hoglander. In the 2024-2025 season, Hoglander tied Boeser as second on the team with 24 goals. Hoglander also earned a total of 36 points during his time on the ice this season. Hoglander proved himself to be a versatile player who only continues to grow. I think it is highly unlikely that the Canucks back away from Hoglander and what he can bring to the team going forward.
There are several players up for a contract extension going into the next season and these are just a glimpse into what the Canucks could be looking for in order to push themselves out of the hole they dug for themselves this season. There is no doubt that the Canucks have real talent on their team and skillful players, so extending these players and adding on additional talent can possibly push the team back to the playoffs next season. With talent like Quinn Hughes leading the team, it seems as though filling in some gaps and continuing to develop their current team could land them back in a playoff position next year. Keep an eye out for contract extension news and who the Canucks will or will not be signing on for the 2025-2026 season.
