By: Trent Leith / March 28, 2025 I doubt anyone has noticed beyond Brayden and Reid, who are the other two guys who run the site, but I have not been writing much. First of all, big ups to those two for churning out content while I was not.
There has been a lot going on in life lately, and I have had some writing burnout. But I want to get back into the swing of things!
One of the nice things about writing for a site that you created is that there are no rules. I am lucky enough that I can just decide to stop writing for a bit and still have something to return to. The other nice perk is that I can write whatever I want. So, I want to try something a little different.
Instead of the essay-style writing we have done in the past, I want to cover a few topics per article. Sort of a “notebook” style. I haven’t fleshed my plan out all the way yet, but I will be doing that on the fly. Why? Because I have no boss here. So let’s do this together.
Boeser Is So Back
In Brock’s last five games, he has 5 goals and 6 points. He clearly has a chip on his shoulder from the lack of interest in him at the trade deadline and the lack of a new contract. I love Boeser as a player and a person. So, as a fan, I hope that he returns.
He seems like a genuinely good person, is great friends with many of the top players on the team, and has had such a rough hand in his personal life. The guy deserves the best, and I hope the Canucks take another serious attempt at resigning.
A long-term Boeser contract likely won’t age the best, but for the right price, I think Vancouver fans would back this player in his last years with the team.
It is also worth noting that he is the longest-tenured player on the team. He has earned some loyalty, being one of the only bright spots on the team during some of the leanest times.
Do you remember how excited we all were when he played his first handful of games with the team and was in the Calder race in his rookie year? I love rooting for Boeser, and always will.
The Schedule
This stretch of the schedule has been so fun. Pettersson is back, Boeser is scoring again, there have been big divisional games and the Canucks have shown up for them. First, in a big game with Calgary, the winner takes possession of a playoff spot. The Canucks took it.
Then the Canucks played Utah, another team in the wildcard hunt. The Canucks drop that game.
Next, the Canucks smoked the Jets, a team at the top of the standings. The Canucks just mopped the floor with them.
And then! Canucks fly to St. Louis to face the third and final opponent in the wildcard race and Boeser gets his fourth goal in two days to force overtime with 2.7 seconds left. Sudden death. The winner gets the playoff spot. The Blues think they won, but Lankenin barely holds the puck out. The game continues, and the Blues take it for real.
Just an awesome stretch to be a Canucks fan.
And then there was the Rangers game… I was at a wedding that day so I couldn’t watch as close as I’d have liked. I really only caught the last ten minutes on my phone while some sort of wedding thing was happening. What a way to end such a fun stretch of hockey. Not only did the Canucks lose, but according to MoneyPuck, the Canucks are down to an 11% chance at making the playoffs.
Oh, and Pettersson and Höglander are hurt and not travelling with the team. Just as those two reach their highest level of play of the season, they are both removed from the game.
Oh, and JT Miller scored the empty-net goal just to rub salt in the wound.
Sigh.
But the Canucks bounced back with two more wins against the Devil’s and Islanders. The Canucks are barely hanging on, and I gotta say, even if expectations were higher this year, its exciting hockey to be watching.
Demko is Returning
I am afraid that at this point in his career, we can no longer refer to Thatcher as “Bubble Demko” but rather, “Bubblewrap Demko”. But it is great news that our highest-ceiling goalie is back, especially when two other players join the injury club in Vancouver, and the team is fighting for their lives in the wildcard race.
But let me tell you what, when Friedman mentioned on 32 Thoughts The Podcast that Demko might not be 100% yet, it sent alarm bells ringing in my head.
Is it worth risking Demko’s long-term health for this? If he gets hurt, who knows what his future with the club will be. Will the Canuck’s resign him? Will they be able to trade him? Hell, it might come down to having to buy him out.
At this point, Demko has been back with the team for two games, and both performances were strong, showcasing some solid positional play and even his ability to make more desperate saves that rely on instinct and flexibility.
It’s a good sign to see explosive movement in his game. If that wasn’t there, it would imply either a lack of ability to do it anymore or that he is still hurt. So far, I am seeing none of that. I would expect he will take the lion’s share of the games down the last stretch here if he can stay healthy.
Tocchet’s Future in Vancouver
Tocchet has made it clear he does not want to talk contract extension while the Canucks are scratching and clawing their way into the playoffs. But his deal ends this summer, with both the team and the coach having an option for another year.
Fans have had Tocchets seat warming with blame for the Canuck’s lack of rush offence and defence focused play, however, there is no denying that he is a great coach.
Now, Torts has been fired in Philly. Immediately, it’s easy to connect the dots to a coach without a deal, and the team he started and ended his playing career being without a coach.
Tocchet’s camp had some serious leverage fall into his lap if Philly has an interest in him. It’ll be an interesting off-season… again.