Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
With just three months to go in the NHL’s 2025-26 regular season, it appears that elimination day could come a lot sooner than expected for the Vancouver Canucks.
After a disastrous 2024-25 campaign, there was plenty of optimism heading into this season, especially after Patrik Allvin acquired Evander Kane, locked up Conor Garland and Thatcher Demko to contract extensions, while retaining Brock Boeser, inking him to a seven-year deal.
“But prior to this, we already made the decision that we were going to go with younger players. Over the past few years, our staff has done a good job and we have a number of good young players, whether they’re in our lineup now or close to getting in our lineup. And those players are going to get a chance to play. Based on the circumstances with this team, this is the year to do it. The fact of the matter is we’re in a rebuild.” President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford said.
Vancouver Canucks could be eliminated from playoff contention earlier than many expected
In the weeks following the Canucks’ plans to part ways with their pending UFAs, the club made one of the biggest trades in franchise history, dealing captain Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild for four-piece package that included defenseman Zeev Buium.
From there, the Canucks dropped further in the standings and are now officially in dead last with a 16-26-5 record through 47 games entering action on Saturday and amid a nine-game losing streak, it looks like the club is inching closer to being eliminated from playoff contention.
In a post on social media on Friday, Adam Kierszenblat of The Hockey News revealed that with 90 points potentially needed to get into the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season and with the club only having 35 games left, the Canucks could potentially be eliminated from postseason contention with just nine more regulation losses.
“The #Canucks have 35 games remaining, meaning there are 70 points up for grabs. Vancouver needs 53 points to get to 90, which could be the playoff bar this year. That means Vancouver can only lose nine more games in regulation before being mathematically eliminated.” Kierszenblat said.
Of course, this doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s a fan of this team and with the club now firmly in a rebuild and considering all of their options, including parting with non-UFAs such as Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk, elimination day could come sooner than expected, potentially closer to the trade deadline in March.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
POLL
07 MINUTES AGOÂ Â Â |Â Â Â 3 ANSWERS
Vancouver Canucks enter dangerous territory with only nine losses separating them from playoff elimination
Do you think the Vancouver Canucks will be eliminated from playoff contention before the NHL’s trade deadline?