Canucks player grades: Last place clinched in 5-2 loss vs. Wild

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In their first game against their former superstar the very-tired Canucks wilted in expected fashion.

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Published Apr 02, 2026 • 4 minute read

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Vancouver Canucks centre Max Sasson reacts to his team’s loss against the Minnesota Wild on April 2, 2026. Photo by AP Photo/Matt Krohn /APArticle content

Quinn Hughes was always going to be the story.

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The first time facing his old squad: The team that was supposed to be.

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His new team is playoff bound. His old team is not.

He also didn’t have to play half the game, as he was doing in Vancouver. The minutes in Minnesota, he says, are easier too.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, right, skates with the puck as Vancouver Canucks centre Teddy Blueger defends. Photo by AP Photo/Matt Krohn /AP

His Wild were surely going to dominate the Canucks in Thursday’s game, and not just because of the vastly different directions the two squads are headed — the Canucks also played in downtown Denver on Wednesday night. From the rink, that’s a good 40 minute trip to the airport, and you don’t get on the plane until after 11. After that, it’s a two-hour flight from Denver to Minneapolis plus a time zone change. So you’re not getting to your hotel till 3 a.m.

It’s as tough a two-night swing of games you’ll find in the NHL, and for some reason the Canucks keep getting handed it year after year.

That the Canucks looked haggard in the third period was no surprise: They were up 2-1 in the first but faded. Yes, they always fade in the second this season, this time the fading was understandable. It also wasn’t that surprising when they gave up a late empty-net goal, sealing a 5-2 win for the hosts.

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The Boldy thing

Everytime you see Boldy score, you should be reminded that for whatever reason GM Jim Benning eschewed him for Vasily Podkolzin, who is having a fine season in Edmonton but still isn’t the player Boldy has become.

Podkolzin was admired by scouts for his intelligence and the completeness of his game. He was a fine pick. A player who projected well.

But Boldy had a higher ceiling. He’s a remarkable player. An Olympian — and a 40 goal scorer.

Meanwhile the Canucks traded Podkolzin for a fourth-round pick.

Last place

If you’re going to be bad, at least make it historic.

Never before has a Canucks team finished dead last in the league. April 2, 2026 was the day they finally set a new standard … or whatever this is.

They’ll be 32nd when the season concludes in two weeks. They’ll have a 25.5 per cent chance at picking first overall.

In other words, they’re unlikely to pick first and when you add up the remaining values, they’re 55 per cent likely to pick third overall, a devastating result.

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During the Linden-Benning era, no team in the NHL finished worse than the Canucks from 2016 to 2018. Their average draft position was 5.67: Atrocious.

Now, they did get Elias Pettersson and Hughes in those drafts, but Benning also misfired and picked Olli Juolevi in 2016.

Still, the fact they never got to pick near the top of the draft is amazing.

Here they are. This could be a franchise-defining summer.

Vancouver Canucks players talk during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild on April 2, 2026. Photo by AP Photo/Matt Krohn /APForwards

Elias Pettersson C+ Nice early backcheck. Lots of good plays on the puck. Been better but also been worse.

Liam Öhgren C. Been better. He, Pettersson and DeBrusk saw a lot of Hughes and Brock Faber and struggled to generate much when they were up against the Wild’s best defencemen.

Jake DeBrusk B- Mr. Power play back at it. 15/18 goals, 83.3 per cent is second highest percentage of man-advantage goals by a player with at least 15 goals

Marco Rossi C Not great in his own end, not great on offence.

Drew O’Connor C+ At least he was feisty.

Brock Boeser C After a big night vs. Colorado, not much to say in his favour back in his hometown.

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Teddy Blueger C+Helped create Willander’s goal. Tidy game.

Minnesota Wild centre Joel Eriksson Ek, right, and Vancouver Canucks centre Teddy Blueger compete for the puck. Photo by AP Photo/Matt Krohn /AP

Max Sasson C+ He’s thriving as a winger.

Linus Karlsson C+ Missing a bit of a scoring touch lately but doing everything else well.

Ty Mueller C+ With Evander Kane out and Nils Hoglander unfavoured, the pesky centre got his first NHL game of the season in. Quiet game. All you can ask for.

Curtis Douglas C+ Lost his balance on a silly Hughes cross check near the boards. Quietly, maybe his most effective game as a Canuck.

Aatu Räty C+ A weird option on the wing but if the coaches really don’t want to play Hoglander, here we are.

Defence

Zeev Buium B Masterful night against his old team. Controlled the puck well. A couple defensive blips but a big performance in a big moment.

Zeev Buium skates with the puck ahead of Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy during the first period of the game on Thursday, April 2, 2026. Photo by AP Photo/Matt Krohn /AP

Filip Hronek B Great night against his old friend. A good night as partner to his rookie teammate, too.

Marcus Pettersson C Got eaten alive against the Wild’s top line while his youthful partner struggled.

Tom Willander C+ Nice instincts on the four on four to get his goal. He’s hit 20 points on the season. He’s the 18th rookie defenceman in team history to hit that mark and the first since Quinn Hughes. Tough night on defence again though.

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Elias Pettersson C As the Mad Men meme goes: “not great Bob!” Another tough night in a mostly tough season for the sophomore blueliner.

P-O Joseph C Same as his partner.

Goalie

Nikita Tolopilo B. Goaltending is a weird thing in the modern game. More and more, it’s about getting into position to make a save: That’s what matters. Shooters are so good now, making great saves is simply about being in the way. He was solid vs. Minneapolis. Gave his team a chance to win even as they continued to struggle defensively.

pjohnston@postmedia.com

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Canucks player grades: Last place clinched in 5-2 loss vs. Wild

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