By: Trent Leith / June 11, 2026 Welcome to Trent’s Train of Thought, a series that touches on several topics instead of just diving deep into one. This edition has thoughts on the new coaching staff, front office, potential trade targets and the 2026 Cup Finals – The Cup Final for the Psychos
It’s Been a While
I haven’t written anything in ages. The Canucks sucked, I was burnt out from watching the team, and then the playoffs started, and I had no free time because all of it was spent at work or watching the playoffs. Now there is a game every other night and I have some time to put some pen to paper.
A lot has happened. The Canucks locked up last, the entire front office and coaching staff have rolled over, the Canucks got the 3rd overall pick, and there have been three complete rounds of the playoffs played. I felt like it’s about time to stick my head back in and share my thoughts.
Getting the Band Back Together
Hockey has always been known for execs and coaches hiring their buddies, or old roommates in junior ect. And the Canucks are doing that right now. Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Manny Malhotra, Alex Edler, Ryan Johnson and maybe even Alex Burrows. I have seen some concerns that the twins aren’t hiring the best people for the job, but instead their buddies. I want to push back on that. First, have we not learned to let the twins cook? How many times do you remember screaming at the TV for 45 seconds to shoot the puck, just for the twins to make an effortless pass for a backdoor tap-in?
I have read reports that ownership wants to do this on the cheap. RJ is making somewhere close to a players league minimum of $850K. Do you know a cheap way to build a front office? Keep the good staff you already have. As much as I don’t like it, you can’t fault ownership for wanting to spend less during a period of time where it is expected the team won’t have a great product for fans, and as a result, you probably won’t sell as many tickets.
What was the biggest problem with the Canucks over the last 5 years? Culture. The Canucks had a great 1-2 punch down the middle, a Vezina-calibre goalie and a Norris-calibre defender. The Canucks had the rarest pieces in place, things looked good for the future, but it all fell apart inside the room. Things got so bad that Pettersson is the shell of himself, Miller is gone, Hughes is gone, and Thatcher Demko, well, he is made of glass.
My point is, the vibes around the team have spoiled worse than the yogurt you forgot in your locker over spring break in grade nine. Do you want to know how to fix that? Bring in the leadership group of the greatest era in Canucks hockey. Are the Sedins, JR, Manny and whoever else comes in the door the best available hires? Tough to say, but they are leaders. They are the kind of guys you want leading a rebuild. If you want to buy in on what the Canes have under Rod the Bod, this is a damn good start.
The Canucks don’t need to make blockbuster trades; they don’t need to be gunslingers on the draft floor. They need to be steady, reliable leaders who can set a tone for this team from the top down. They need to create team pride and develop talent. That’s it. That’s all we need for the next few years. I have absolutely no problem with bringing in alumni from the golden age of the Canucks for this. In fact, I think these have been some perfect selections. Make the young players proud to follow in their footsteps and wear the Orca.
Let the twins cook.
Larkin Wants Out
And do you know what that means? They will be missing a centreman. Larkin is their best Centreman by a mile, and Detroit is not looking to take a step back; they will need to replace Larkin. Do you know a centreman who has been on Detroit’s radar before and needs a fresh start? I do. I have been saying it all along, Pettersson is a very tradable asset this summer.
When Alex Tuch makes $100M on July 1st, people will look at Pettersson, a player with Selke potential making $11.75 in a world where there are no good options in free agency and a drastically inflated cap and think “You know what, we might be willing to take a gamble”. Petey needs a fresh start; he is never going to reach his potential here, just like Marner wasn’t going to in Toronto.
Now you have a team that has previously kicked tires on EP40 suddenly desperate to replace their centre. Don’t be shocked if we start hearing Detroit has interest.
Hronek’s Gotta Go
I love Hronek, but he simply doesn’t fit this team anymore. He is a Ferrari parked in a low-income neighbourhood. A steady, right-shot defenseman who can run his own pair and QB a power-play. He is a valuable asset that is being wasted here. You could arguably ask for a larger return for Hronek than you got back for Hughes. If the team is serious about a proper rebuild, Hronek has to be shopped around.
The same can be said about DeBrusk, but I have no doubt he is on the trade block, and quite frankly, everyone over 25 should be available to the highest bidder. Except maybe Brock, you need a guy who bleeds blue on the team.
Speaking of Bleeding Blue
Brendan Gahlager is the kind of player I would take a bet on. He grew up in BC, played for the Giants and is the kind of player who checks all the boxes. He is the perfect vet to set an example for the young guys. He’s got the work ethic, he’s got the grit, and the drive. Is he overpaid? Who cares? Who else will the Canucks spend the money on?
Actually, they could spend it on…
Darnell Nurse
Here is another negative value asset that is reportedly being shopped around. He’s got four more years left at $9.25M. That is a spicy meatball… to a team that needs to worry about that kind of thing. If you can get paid to take on a player like Nurse, that is something a serious rebuilding team would consider. Plus, you can only have so much success with Nurse on your team, and Edmonton is finally realizing that.
Where do the Canucks hope to be in 4 years? If all goes well, they will be starting the upswing, and that is the perfect time to have $9.25M in cap space fall in your lap. These are the kinds of moves I want to see from the Canucks. I want them to actively acquire bad players who come with sweeteners. I want good veterans around the young guys, no more Evander Kane’s.
CAR Vs. VGK
Is this the final Bettman wanted? Probably not.
Will it get great ratings? Probably not.
Will this match-up create new fans? Probably not.
Will this series rock? Probably.
If you are deep enough into hockey to be reading a Canucks blog like you are right now, you are pretty dialled into hockey; one may call you a hockey psycho. This series is for the psychos. There is drama that isn’t being talked about on the broadcast, but in group chats all over the country (cough Carter Hart cough). There is maybe the best Xs and Os match-up in recent memory for the Cup. You have two teams, both playing defence-first hockey, that can score off the rush. They can smother, and they can run and gun. If you are a hockey psycho, this is the match-up for you.
The 2026 Final is for the Psychos.
Go Canes.