The Vancouver Canucks are in one of those seasons where every game feels like a test—both for the players and for the fans who have stuck around through the ups and downs. The team’s record isn’t pretty, and at times it feels like there’s more frustration than joy on the ice. But beneath the surface, there are reasons to pay attention. The Canucks’ young core is developing. The organization is adding pieces for the future, and a handful of players are stepping into bigger roles.
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Three items stand out this morning as signs that Vancouver is quietly building toward something better. First, rookie defenceman Tom Willander is showing he can handle more responsibility and could be a cornerstone for the team’s blue line. Second, the Abbotsford Canucks have bolstered their lineup by adding big NCAA forward Austin Brimmer, a player who brings both size and scoring potential to the American Hockey League (AHL) club. And third, despite the standings, the Canucks’ young players are giving glimpses of why this team is still worth watching, even in the middle of a rough stretch.
Item One: Tom Willander: Rookie Defender Stepping Into the Canucks’ Future
Willander has quietly become one of the more intriguing stories on the Vancouver roster. The 21-year-old Swede is getting more ice time, more responsibility, and more trust from the coaching staff than most rookies could hope for. Since returning from the Winter Olympic break, he’s averaged over 20 minutes a game in five of seven contests—a jump from his season average of just under 16. That suggests the Canucks see him as a player who can handle tough minutes, contribute offensively on the power play, and develop into a reliable presence on the back end.
(Bob Frid-Imagn Images)
Willander hasn’t just relied on in-season experience to improve. During the Olympic break, he returned to Sweden to continue working, demonstrating dedication to his craft that bodes well for his future. With Tyler Myers now traded to the Dallas Stars, there’s room for Willander to step up even more.
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Only veteran defencemen like Filip Hronek and Marcus Pettersson, along with rookie Zeev Buium, are getting more ice time. If he continues on this trajectory, Willander could finish the season stronger than expected and set himself up for a sophomore campaign where he’s a true fixture of the Canucks’ defence.
Item Two: Canucks Organization Adds Big NCAA Forward Austin Brimmer to AHL Roster
Down in Abbotsford, the Canucks are looking to strengthen their depth, and Brimmer could be just the kind of player to provide an immediate boost. The 24-year-old forward joins the AHL squad on a professional tryout for the remainder of the season, with a one-year contract starting next season. At 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds, Brimmer is a physical presence who led the Rochester Institute of Technology in hits this past season while still chipping in 25 points in 36 games.
Brimmer’s experience across four NCAA seasons, including three with Long Island University, has helped him develop into a forward who can contribute offensively while also bringing grit and energy. Abbotsford is dealing with injuries and depth issues down the stretch, and Brimmer’s arrival couldn’t come at a better time.
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Whether it’s for a midweek set of games or the remainder of the six-game homestand, he’s the kind of player who can provide size, skill, and physicality in a hurry. For Vancouver, NCAA signings like Brimmer are low-risk ways to add potential without sacrificing future assets.
Why the Canucks Are Still Worth Watching
Watching the Canucks these days is a strange mix of frustration and hope. Yes, the standings are ugly. Wins are scarce, losses pile up, and some nights it feels like the team is sinking. But the kids aren’t mailing it in—they’re battling every shift, learning on the fly, and still coming up short. That struggle makes them compelling.
The past few seasons have been messy. The way Bruce Boudreau was let go was embarrassing. The J.T. Miller–Elias Pettersson situation never fully clicked, and plenty of other moves left fans shaking their heads. Pettersson is only now starting to regain his stride, and players like Liam Ogren, Buium, Marco Rossi, Nikita Tolopilo, and Willander are showing flashes of real potential. Every minute on the ice, every battle against a veteran, every tough lesson is laying the groundwork for the future.
Rebuilding teams have to hit bottom before anything clicks, and Vancouver is right there. It’s ugly, but the experiences these young players are getting now could pay off in a big way. There’s a Phoenix moment waiting somewhere down the line, a young core that, if it gels and grows confident, could carry the city with it. And when that day comes, every loss, every rough night, and every setback might just feel worth it.
What’s Next for the Canucks?
The bottom line is, I like this team’s potential. It isn’t there yet—this is absolutely the lowest point they can be at—but I think a new future is coming if management doesn’t mess it up.
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Keep an eye on Willander; he’s earning heavier minutes and taking on bigger defensive responsibilities every game. Brimmer could make an immediate impact in Abbotsford, bringing size, energy, and scoring touch to the lineup. The young core—Ogren, Buium, Rossi, and Tolopilo—is learning fast and starting to show sparks of what they can become.
Every tough game, every battle, every setback is building toward a solid future. And if it all clicks, these kids have the potential to do something really special.
