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Things aren't going well in Vancouver.
The Canucks currently occupy last place in the NHL as the team struggles for a second consecutive season.
In 2024, the British Columbia team finished first in the Pacific Division before losing to the Oilers in seven games in the second round of the playoffs.
Since then, nothing has gone right for the Canucks, who recently traded Quinn Hughes and J.T. Miller last year.
Let's just say it was starting to look like a rebuild in Vancouver.
And now it's official, as team general manager Patrik Allvin made the announcement today.
“The draft is really important for us in the long-term plan and the direction we're going here.”
General Manager Patrik Allvin speaks in an exclusive interview with Chris Faber about the future of the team and importance of the draft at the #Canucks annual Scouting Meetings. pic.twitter.com/SDO1VjI6lt
– Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 11, 2026
The CEO uses the term rebuild as well as hybrid-retool to describe the transition in the Canucks' process, but what he explains is clear: the organization wants to acquire young players and picks to rebuild the team.
It's understandable that the CEO isn't going to say they're going to tank for three or four years to get good players; that's not a great sell.
However, if you want to rebuild a competitive team, you have to draft as high as possible to ensure you get your hands on quality future players, otherwise you cut corners and the process can take even longer.
Moreover, this announcement is likely to fuel transaction rumors surrounding the Canucks.
We know that Kiefer Sherwood's name has been linked to the Habs in recent weeks, and that the 30-year-old veteran is the kind of player Allvin could trade for prospects or picks, two things the Habs have plenty of.
What's more, if the Canucks really are moving into rebuilding mode, one has to wonder whether some of the team's veterans are truly untouchable.
Even a player like Elias Pettersson, who has a no-movement clause, may not want to spend his best years with a rebuilding team and could agree to waive his clause.
It's a very hypothetical scenario, but if the Canucks really do go into full rebuild mode, who knows?
Overtime
– Air Stamkos.
Stamkos had to go AERIAL to avoid the collision and try to poke it home
pic.twitter.com/8trc0F10W9
– B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 12, 2026
– What a ball and chain!
Turn up the volume for this Roman Josi blast
– NHL (@NHL) January 12, 2026
– He's rolling at full speed.
OVI AGAIN
That's goals in four straight and five goals during that span! pic.twitter.com/gISCv2RVTo
– NHL (@NHL) January 12, 2026
– Blues ready to move.
Jeff Marek: I was having a conversation with someone…about the Blues, it very much feels like outside of…Robert Thomas and some of the Neighbours…Dvorskys of the world, it kinda looks and feels like the Blues are open for business – Oilersnation Everyday (1/8)
– NHL Rumor Report (@NHLRumorReport) January 12, 2026
– The end of a great career.
Milos Raonic announces his retirementhttps://t.co/PSxbOgTQ1X
– TVA Sports (@TVASports) January 12, 2026
