The Vancouver Canucks are a team that will look quite different in the near future as they navigate a needed rebuilding phase aimed towards righting the ship and getting this organization back on an upward trajectory.
Today is a big day for the franchise as they head into tonight’s NHL draft lottery with the number one odds to land the first overall selection in the 2026 NHL draft. No matter what happens, they will own a top three pick at the very least.
Beyond the draft, structural change will take place this summer with former general manager Patrik Allvin out. Vancouver President Jim Rutherford will have to bring in a new GM over the offseason and sources say he is close to his decision.
Pierre Dorion Favorite for Canucks New GM
Via Grey Wyshynski, the Canucks are leaning towards hiring Pierre Dorion as their next GM. Dorion last held a GM job with the Ottawa Senators from 2016-2023.
Like the John Chayka hiring in Toronto, this hire would probably not go down well amongst the Vancouver fanbase if it indeed comes to fruition. Dorion’s tenure with the Senators left much to be desired. Outside of his first year with the team, Ottawa never made the playoffs while he was in the front office. The prospects have since looked up since he was let go as the team has made consecutive postseason showings.
New Vancouver GM Will Have Work to Do
If the Canucks do make this reported Dorion move official, he will have work to do towards rebuilding this team. After a last place finish in the standings this past season, this Vancouver team is a long way from returning to contention.
There is a laundry list of items to take care of in Vancouver. One of them is the Ellias Pettersson dilemma. The Canucks star forward has struggled in recent seasons and carries with him one of the richest contracts in the league coming in at $11.6 million a year. The 27-year old Swedish forward’s deal does not expire until 2032. Does Pettersson stick around through the duration of this rebuild or is he moved like Quinn Hughes and others before him?
Vancouver is a group that has historically struggled when it comes to having stability and a clear path from the higher ups in charge. The direction taken by the new Canucks front office will be crucial when it comes to projecting future success. How does the brass go about this rebuild? Are they patient with the process and have the wherewithal necessary to gradually accumulate top draft picks and build up a strong prospect pool for the next few years? Or do they try to fast track the process and get this team back in the playoffs sooner than later?
This top three pick will be a great place to start for this new GM. Whether that player ends up being Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Caleb Malhotra or someone else this team will have a foundation piece to build around. But, the draft alone won’t save them. This will be an important summer all around for the Canucks.
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