Teams Expected to Call Vancouver Canucks About Two Players in the Week Ahead, per Insider

The Vancouver Canucks can't hold leads, and they're getting out-chanced on most nights, even when the shot clock tilts their way. Just 15 games into the 2025-26 season, this group already looks like it's in trouble.

Worse yet, the future doesn't look much brighter. The issue isn't effort or personality. Players like Brock Boeser, Marcus Pettersson, and Drew O'Connor bring professionalism and compete every night.

Kiefer Sherwood has been one of the few bright spots, a spark plug with real scoring touch and energy that fans can rally behind.

And Thatcher Demko continues to give the Canucks a chance to win almost every night, though it's hard to say he's having much fun behind this inconsistent roster.

But the numbers tell the story. When teams reach the 20-game mark, their early trends usually define their season, and right now, Vancouver's trends are grim.

They're in the middle of the pack, neither bad enough to rebuild nor good enough to contend. Elias Pettersson hasn't found his scoring touch, and Quinn Hughes, for all his brilliance, has just a single even-strength point.

There's also growing chatter around the league. NHL insider Rick Dhaliwal reported that if the Canucks struggle over the next seven games, rival teams are expected to start calling about Sherwood and Conor Garland, a clear sign that other clubs sense instability and potential movement in Vancouver.

For a team that was supposed to take another step forward, the Canucks look like they're standing still.

The next few weeks may decide whether management doubles down or starts answering those calls. Either way, the clock is ticking fast in Vancouver.