10 Must-Watch Canucks Games in 2026-27

The Vancouver Canucks won’t have a lot of expectations heading into the 2026-27 season, especially when it comes to making the playoffs. They are starting a rebuild that will likely take five years to complete, which means there could be a lot of losing on the horizon. Having said that, the games still have to be played, and no team has gone through a season without at least one tally in the win column. Furthermore, a rebuild can produce exciting moments, from first NHL goals and points to simply youthful energy throughout the lineup, not to mention the promise of brighter days ahead as the prospects/young guys continue to progress in their development.

So, as we get closer and closer to the first opening night in September in Canucks history, let’s take a look at some of the more notable games to circle on the calendar.

Canucks Open Season With a Home-and-Home Against a Familiar Foe

Sept. 29 & Oct. 1 – Edmonton Oilers

For what feels like the upteenth time, the Canucks open their season against Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. In fact, this game is part of a home-and-home series with their Pacific Division rivals that starts in Edmonton on Sept. 29 and concludes in Vancouver on Oct. 1. They also play them once in the preseason on Sept. 24.

After failing to win the Stanley Cup again last season, the Oilers decided to part ways with head coach Kris Knoblauch and hire Mike Babcock. They will also debut a new blue line without Darnell Nurse and possibly a new starting goaltender in 2026 Stanley Cup champion Frederik Andersen. The Canucks will counter with a new head coach of their own in Manny Malhotra, and the first regular-season game in a jersey other than the Montreal Canadiens for Brendan Gallagher.

No matter the roster, the Canucks and Oilers always play some intense and exciting games, and these first two should be no different. Both teams are heading in opposite directions, but I expect a couple of fun, back-and-forth affairs for the first home-and-home in Malhotra’s tenure as head coach. There could be some fireworks, too, as the last time the Canucks opened with a home-and-home against the Oilers, they throttled them 8-1, and Brock Boeser scored four goals.

Stanley Cup Champions Come to Town

Oct. 20 – Carolina Hurricanes

It’s always a must-watch game when the Stanley Cup champions visit Rogers Arena, and for the first time in three years, that doesn’t mean the Florida Panthers are coming to town. No, this time, it’s one of Malhotra’s old teams, the Carolina Hurricanes, who marched their way to a Stanley Cup on the backs of stellar goaltending from Andersen and Brandon Bussi, veteran leadership from eventual Conn Smythe winner Jordan Staal and supreme depth led by Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake. Not to mention the well-oiled system put in place by head coach Rod Brind’Amour.

The Canucks will face a stiff test from the champs, as they will return much of the same roster that won the Cup in June. The only major piece missing will be Andersen, who signed with the Oilers on July 1. However, that shouldn’t matter too much, as Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov are more than capable of holding down the crease.

Quinn Hughes Returns

Oct. 25 – Minnesota Wild

Even though fans didn’t know the exact date yet, this one was circled on the calendar way back in December. The minute Quinn Hughes was dealt to the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 12, everyone started thinking of the day he would return to Rogers Arena wearing a white road jersey rather than the familiar blue and green or black and orange. The Canucks have met their former captain already, but that came in Minnesota on April 2, where he posted an assist in 24:48 of ice time.

To say Hughes was dominant in Canucks jersey would be a massive understatement. In 459 games, he recorded a franchise-best (among defencemen) 432 points by way of 61 goals and 371 assists. He was an exciting, almost mesmerizing at times, player who got fans out of their seats in a way that was not seen since the days of Pavel Bure. No matter what you feel about how he left and the things that have come out since the trade, the Canucks will never have a defenceman like him don the Orca or Flying Skate ever again. Hughes will definitely feel the wrath of the boo birds, though, especially after his comments in the media and the optics that he quit on the team.

Lost in the anticipation will probably be the fact that Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium and Liam Ohgren will be in home threads rather than road threads. The trio has integrated well into the Canucks roster since being acquired, with Buium taking on Hughes’ role on the top pairing with Filip Hronek, Ohgren surprising with his speed and chemistry with Rossi and Boeser, and Rossi making headway as the second-line centre after returning from injury late last season. All three look like huge parts of the rebuild; here’s hoping they have a great game and Hughes is kept off the scoreboard.

Gavin McKenna & Auston Matthews In Town For Halloween

Oct. 31 – Toronto Maple Leafs

After the Canucks finished dead last in the standings last season and had the best odds at the first-overall pick in the 2026 Draft, everyone was hoping to see Gavin McKenna‘s name next to the Canucks logo on June 26. But that dream went out the window when the lottery balls fell the Toronto Maple Leafs’ way, and they ended up with the pick instead.

A date with Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs in Vancouver is always a must-watch, but now with the added story of McKenna, it’s double the anticipation. McKenna could be the next star in the NHL, and he should have been a Canuck. Couple that with the Maple Leafs fans in the building taunting that fact along with their usual shenanigans, and this has the potential for standing-room-only viewing. Oh yes, it’s also Halloween night, so expect a lot of costumes, spookiness, and maybe even a little magic. Hopefully, the hockey gods and whatever other spirits come out to play are on the Canucks side.

The Great 8 for the Last Time?

Dec. 7 – Washington Capitals

A lot of people thought Jan. 21, 2026, was the last time Alex Ovechkin would visit Vancouver in his NHL career. But barring an injury, of course, that farewell has now been postponed to Dec. 7, as the Great 8 re-signed with the Washington Capitals on a one-year deal in the offseason. It may even be postponed to 2027 or 2028 if what his wife says is true. Whatever the case, every time the leading goalscorer in NHL history visits your team’s arena, it’s a must-see event.

Ovechkin is still going strong, and will be 41 years old when he suits up on Dec. 7. He’s not the 50-60 goal scorer of years past, but he can still fill the net. At a ripe 40 years old, he recorded his fifth-straight 30-plus goal season in 2025-26 and has only one in his career where he’s scored fewer than 25 – and that came in the shortened 2020-21 campaign. He has 16 goals and 28 points in 30 career games against the Canucks; could he be approaching the 950-goal milestone by the time this game is on tap?

Nils Hoglander Comes Back

Dec. 10 – Nashville Predators

When Nils Hoglander had his 24-goal season back in 2023-24, the Canucks thought they had a rising star on their hands. But after some injuries and inconsistency, he now finds himself wearing a Nashville Predators jersey, trying to prove himself in a new city. At his best, he’s a pest to play against, with high-energy forechecking and underrated hands, and at his worst, he’s invisible. The Canucks hope they see the latter when he returns to Rogers Arena on Dec. 10. He should receive a warm welcome, though, as he was a fan favourite in the 331 games he suited up for since being drafted 40th overall in 2019.

Jamie Oleksiak Returns to Seattle

Jan. 3 – @Seattle Kraken

The Canucks were surprisingly busy on July 1, signing three veterans to short-term deals. Jamie Oleksiak received the only multi-year deal, inking a two-year contract worth $5 million average annual value (AAV) after spending the last five seasons with the Seattle Kraken. He will return to the Emerald City early in 2027 and will feature prominently in the top four, most likely alongside Tom Willander (if he’s not a member of the Kraken, that is).

Oleksiak will likely be a fan favourite by then, considering his propensity to throw hits and sacrifice his body to block shots. Over his 14-year career, he has 1,449 hits and 1,085 blocked shots, hitting triple digits in both categories in three of the last four seasons. Because of that, he should also receive a warm welcome from the Seattle faithful the first time he walks into Climate Pledge Arena wearing another jersey.

Sidney Crosby’s Potential Final Game in Vancouver

Feb. 16 – Pittsburgh Penguins

This season could see two farewell tours and subsequently mark the end of an era that began in 2005-06 when Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby suited up for the first time in the NHL. The iconic duo entered the league at the same time, even though they were drafted a year apart, and have since put on a headline show that has lasted over two decades.

While neither Crosby nor Ovechkin has officially said this will be their last season, they are both nearing the end of their careers. Crosby will be 39 in August, and Ovechkin, as mentioned, is 40 right now. Every game they play in Vancouver could be their last, so it’s important to savour every opportunity to watch them in action. Crosby is the least likely to hang it up after this season, but you never know.

Crosby has always put on a show every time he’s played the Canucks, and has a massive history at Rogers Arena, scoring the golden goal at the then-named Canada Hockey Place against Team USA. As such, there’s always the potential for some excitement when he comes to town.

Brendan Gallagher Makes His Return to the Bell Centre

March 6 – @Montreal Canadiens

Gallagher will have to wait until the second-to-last month of the season to make his much-anticipated return to Montreal. He will play his first game against his old team on Feb. 1 in Vancouver, but Habs fans won’t get to show their full appreciation until over a month later, when the puck drops for Game 68.

Gallagher played 911 games – his entire career to this point – in a Canadiens uniform and scored 246 goals and 487 points. He also had 27 game-winning goals and 51 power-play goals. He sits 13th in games played and 26th in points in franchise history and was a huge part of the team that made it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021. He might not be the 30-goal scorer he was during his heyday in 2017-18 and 2018-19, but his style of game, leadership, and overall tenacity to beat the odds are hallmarks of why he’s still a useful player and personality to have around.

Because of that, Gallagher will receive a standing ovation and plenty of cheers from the Canadiens’ passionate fans, including what promises to be an emotional tribute video. I’m sure there won’t be a dry eye in the house, but don’t expect Gallagher to rein in his pest-like nature when the action resumes on the ice. His fans probably wouldn’t have it any other way.

Despite the Rebuild, Canucks Hockey Should Still Be Fun to Watch

Eighty-eight games await us in a few short months. The preseason will only feature four games, while the regular season gets two more for a total of 84. Despite what everyone thinks will be a season of frustration and more losing, I think we will be pleasantly surprised by what we see. Everyone from co-presidents Henrik and Daniel Sedin and general manager Ryan Johnson to head coach Manny Malhotra and new assistants Ryan Mougenel, Jordan Smith, and Jason Krog seems to be pulling on the same rope under the vision of hard work, preparation and a solid culture.

While we don’t know what Malhotra’s system will be just yet, it will likely involve high energy and a strong work ethic. I don’t know about you, but that’s a recipe for an exciting season. Let’s get it started already!