The Vancouver Canucks are heading into a crucial stretch of the season, and it’s got fans talking about what’s next. The Olympic break gives everyone a chance to catch their breath, but soon enough, action resumes, and decisions have to be made.
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Are the Canucks selling, holding, or trying to figure out how to build next season’s team? The chance for a surprise playoff spot seems to have sped off. Right now, it looks like management is choosing to rebuild, which means there’s a lot of chatter about veteran moves, salary cap flexibility, and which players are finally stepping up—or falling behind.
Item One: Canucks Face a Garland Dilemma as Rebuild Picks Up Speed
Conor Garland hasn’t been making headlines lately, but his situation deserves more attention. That six-year, $6 million average annual value (AAV) extension he signed last summer looks reasonable on paper. However, the trade protections haven’t kicked in yet. Right now, Garland can be moved if the Canucks want to. Next season, he gets a full no-move clause for three years, then a modified no-trade clause after that. The window where Vancouver has full control is closing fast.
That creates a tricky balancing act. The Canucks already have the Elias Pettersson question looming, and Garland could become another challenge if the rebuild drags on. He hasn’t asked out or shown any signs of unhappiness. But if the team doesn’t act, the organization might come to believe that Garland will eventually decide to leave.
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Once those protections are in place, the Canucks’ leverage in any trade talks basically disappears. For a team trying to turn veteran pieces into future assets, acting sooner rather than later could be the smart play. But he’s a good “citizen” and has the heart of a lion. That’s worth something. What to do?
Item Two: Could Warren Foegele Be a Smart Pick-Up for the Canucks?
With the trade deadline coming up, Warren Foegele from the Los Angeles Kings is starting to pop up in rumour circles. On paper, it’s a low-risk move that could pay off big. Foegele has shown he can score, and at $3.5 million, he might be available for a mid-round pick. For a team trying to rebuild without overspending, that’s exactly the kind of move you look for.
This season hasn’t been kind. Right now, Foegele’s sitting at six goals and eight points. But that doesn’t mean he’s washed up. If the Canucks can help him get back to form, they’d get a scoring boost now and an asset they could flip later.
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The trick is making sure he fits with the roster and doesn’t slow down younger players coming up. If it works, Foegele could provide immediate depth while remaining a tradable asset down the line—perfect for a team focused on long-term flexibility. He played well with the Edmonton Oilers before moving to the Kings and has scored 20 goals twice in his career.
Item Three: Tyler Myers Stuck in a Slump as Canucks Struggle
Tyler Myers hasn’t had it easy either. Since the Christmas holiday break, he hasn’t scored in 21 games. For a veteran defenseman, that’s a rough stretch. He’s gone minus-15 over that run with 34 shots, 22 hits, 21 blocked shots, and 12 penalty minutes.
The bigger picture is that Myers isn’t necessarily playing badly. He’s still making plays and doing the dirty work. However, he’s caught in a team-wide slump. Fewer scoring opportunities from the backend mean his numbers are down, and the Canucks’ struggles make it tough to shine offensively. He’s still contributing in ways that don’t show up on the scoresheet. That said, if Vancouver wants Myers to return to form, the team as a whole will need to stabilize. Right now, it has to be frustrating for the tall blueliner.
What’s Next for the Canucks?
Vancouver’s path forward is a mix of patience and calculated moves. Garland’s situation will require a decision soon, either to keep him long-term or to turn him into future assets. Moves like potentially picking up Foegele show management is thinking strategically, trying to find low-risk, high-upside pieces that could pay dividends down the road.
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Meanwhile, players like Myers remind fans that not everyone’s slide is about skill. Sometimes it’s more circumstance. If the Canucks can get a few things right, there’s room to stabilize the roster, give younger players opportunities, and keep building a foundation for the future.
The Olympic break is the quiet before the storm. Come March, Vancouver will have plenty of decisions to make, and fans will be watching closely.
