By: Trent Leith / September 24, 2024 The Canucks are entering their 54th season and are still searching for their first Stanley Cup. As we wait to watch the Canucks in regular season action, here are some key dates and takeaways from the 2024-25 schedule.
- October 9th vs. The Calgary Flames – The Canucks season opener is at home again this year against divisional rivals Calgary Flames. The Canucks usually open the season playing against one of the two Alberta-based teams, and this year it is the middling Calgary Flames.
- October 16th vs. The Florida Panthers – The next big game of note comes against the Panthers, last year’s Stanley Cup winner. The Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Finals, and it was the Edmonton Oilers who ended the Canuck’s playoff run. This will be an early measuring stick game against the current best of the best.
- October 16th vs. Pittsburgh Penguins – Sidney Crosby returns to the site of the Golden Goal early this season. Crosby, who scored the overtime, gold medal goal in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, will make his only visit to Vancouver this season. With Crosby getting older every year, there are fewer and fewer chances to see one of the greatest NHL players of all time. Crosby recently signed a two-year, $8.7M contract that will conclude at the end of the 2026/27 season. There is a chance this game is one of the remaining three times Crosby will return to Rogers Arena before he retires.
- October 30th vs. The New Jersey Devils – The first Hughes Bowl will happen on the eve of Halloween. The Devils roll into town and Jack and Quinn will go head to head once again. However, the youngest brother Luke will likely miss this game. On Sept 12th the Devil’s announced Luke Hughes will miss 6-8 weeks due to a shoulder injury. Regardless, it is always a joy watching Jack and Quinn going head to head as two of the top players in the league.
- November 2nd vs. The SJ Sharks – Canucks fans will get their first taste of 1st overall selection in the 2023/2024 draft, Macklin Celebrini. Macklin Celebrini was born in North Vancouver, just like the 1st pick before him, Connor Bedard. Canucks will see what they have in store for the future as a potential new divisional star steps onto the scene.
- November 9th vs. The Edmonton Oilers – This will be the first regular season match-up for the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers. There is no doubt that the fan base will go head-to-head on social media. There was a lot of heat online when these two teams faced off last season. The Canucks went undefeated in the regular season against Edmonton, but Edmonton won the 2nd round playoff matchup against the Canucks in seven games. This will be a great measuring stick game for the Canucks as Edmonton is the current heavyweight of the West.
- November 16th vs. The Chicago Blackhawks – The Canucks will face off against Conor Bedard for the first time this season. Like Celebrini, Connor Bedard is scheduled to play his first game in Vancouver. Last season, Bedard did not play in the only game Chicago played in Roger’s Arena so Canucks fans have yet to see him lace up live in the NHL.
- November 26th vs. The Boston Bruins – The Canucks fans will face off against the Bruins for the first time since fan favourite, and hulking defender Nikita Zadorov joined the B’s as a free agent. Not only will Canucks see him, another similar face, Elias Lindholm has joined the Bruins on a new deal. Neither of these players even played a full season with the team, but regardless, it’ll be strange to see them both playing against the Canucks again.
- December 18th vs. The Utah Hockey Club– The Canucks will take the ice for the first time on December 18th against the newly minted Utah Hockey Club. Despite this being the Canucks first time playing against a Hockey Team based out of Utah, it won’t be the first time they have played a game in Utah.
- December 23rd vs. The San Jose Sharks – In the Canucks’ last game before the holiday break, Canucks fans will get a parting gift. Celebrini will play in Vancouver for the first time. The last time Canucks fans saw Celebrini in Rogers Arena, he was cheering for the Canucks in the last playoff run.
- February 8th vs. The Toronto Maple Leafs – Get ready for an early game on February 8th. The Canucks will be hosting the Leafs for their annual trip to Vancouver. As always, hosting Toronto comes with an early start time that is sure to have Canucks fans frustrated. Both the Canucks and Leafs are entering the season with the same betting odds of winning the Stanley Cup. Toronto always plays exciting hockey, and this game will surely be a treat to watch.
- February 12th to 20th – This is where the NHL would normally have an all-star game. But this season, the league is foregoing that in exchange for the first-ever Four Nations Cup, a stripped-back off-shoot of the Word Cup of Hockey. This will be a four-team tournament where Canada, USA, Finland and Sweden all compete in a tournament that will serve as a precursor to the Olympics. It will be the first taste of international best-on-best hockey since the 2018 Olympics. Quinn Hughes has already been named to Team USA, but Brock Boeser, JT Miller, and Thatcher Demko all have their sights on a spot on the American roster. Elias Pettersson will have his eyes on the Swedish team. The Canucks won’t be playing, but there will be a lot of reasons for Canucks fans to follow along with the tournament.
- March 11th vs. The Montreal Canadiens – Just like Toronto draws quite a crowd in Rogers Arena, the Habs have the same ability. Habs fans in Vancouver always come out in droves to show their support for the Canadiens and this season will be no different. With Montreal setting their sights on the postseason, this will likely be an important game for them to win some points.
- March 24th vs. The NJ Devils – The Canucks will face off for the second and final time of the regular season against the Devils in late March. Assuming no new injuries pop up, all three Hughes brothers will be playing. There will be some great photo ops for the NHL’s elite trio of brothers, and surely some fun cuts to their parents as they struggle to cheer for and against their own children. It’s time to pick a favourite, Mr. and Mrs. Hughes.
- April 16th vs. The Vegas Golden Knights – The Canucks will play what may end up being their most important game of the season on the final day. With the Golden Knights in town for Fan Appreciation Night in Vancouver, a big two points will be up for grabs against division rivals VGK. If these two teams play to their expected potential, they could be jockeying for home-ice advantage for the playoffs down to this final game. Not only is it a great final game of the season, but tensions may be high as the Canucks will have played the Golden Knights only 10 days prior in Vegas.