Tonight’s game in Seattle against the Kraken might not be the marquee matchup the schedule-makers envisioned, but from the Vancouver Canucks‘ point of view, it’s far from meaningless.
The Canucks are coming off a 3–2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets — a game where they held two leads but couldn’t quite close the door. Four straight losses and a 2-14-4 stretch make every night a grind. But the Kraken aren’t exactly cruising either; they’ve dropped both games since the Olympic break and have looked shaky in the process.
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Seattle’s griping about “sleepy starts” and “overpassing,” and honestly, that sounds familiar to Canucks fans. The Kraken are clinging to a wild-card spot but playing like they’re trying to convince themselves to be sellers. That puts Vancouver in a strange spot: they have the worst record in the league, but they’re still in a position to disrupt someone else’s plans. With the teams splitting their first two meetings this season — both shootouts — you can bet tonight will be another tight, weird Pacific Northwest special.
Item One: Canucks Get Healthier, but Not Better (Yet)
The best news out of the Olympic break is that bodies are healthy. Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, Brock Boeser, and Nils Höglander all returned, and for a while, against Winnipeg, you could actually see the difference. Vancouver looked quicker, a little cleaner, and a little more confident.
Then reality set in. Defensive gaps appeared, momentum slipped, and chances went begging as the game tightened. Boeser looked sharp for a guy coming off concussion protocol, and Höglander added a spark, but the team still struggles to put together a full 60 minutes. That’s the reality of where this roster is at the moment.
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Still, there’s a silver lining. With fewer injuries, head coach Adam Foote has more options. Lines can be shuffled, minutes can be spread more sensibly, and individual players aren’t being asked to carry impossible loads. It doesn’t erase the record, but it does give them a chance to stop the bleeding.
Item Two: Tyler Myers Scratched… Translation: He’s on the Market
When the team calls it “roster management purposes,” you already know what’s up. Tyler Myers has officially gone from lineup regular to trade asset. He’s travelling, skating on his own, but not expected to play. It’s a clear sign Vancouver doesn’t want to risk losing him before the deadline.
Myers’ value is complicated. He’s a big right-shot defenseman, which always draws interest, but he’s in a 21-game pointless streak and has a no-movement clause. Maybe a deal fell through, maybe he’s not waiving it. Either way, a playoff team looking for depth could still offer a mid-round pick or a prospect, which Vancouver values more than holding onto a veteran placeholder.
Item Three: Lekkerimaki’s Season Ends Early, but Recovery Timeline Looks Strong
Jonathan Lekkerimaki had successful shoulder surgery and will miss the rest of the season. It’s a blow for a 21-year-old who was just starting to find his feet in the NHL, but the news isn’t all bad. He’s expected to be ready for training camp in September, where he’ll get a real chance to compete for a roster spot.
In his 13 games this season, Lekkerimaki put up two goals and an assist and contributed hits and blocked shots. Not a huge sample, but enough to show promise. This injury sets him back temporarily, but it shouldn’t derail the long-term trajectory for a young player with NHL tools.
What’s Next for Vancouver?
The next week is about two things: navigating the trade deadline and rediscovering some identity. The season has been long and uneven, but there are pockets of progress. Young players are stepping up, veterans are returning to provide structure, and a lineup that finally looks like a real NHL roster is forming.
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Results might not change much in the standings, but effort and consistency down the stretch do matter. Showing fight and structure gives management a better read on who fits the long-term picture and who doesn’t. Tonight’s game won’t define the season, but beating a shaky Kraken squad on the road would at least reset the emotional temperature in that room — a small victory, but sometimes that’s exactly what a team like this needs.
