When the NHL shut down in March 2020, every organization faced uncertainty. However, few teams were hit in the long term quite like the Vancouver Canucks. What began as a temporary global pause became a developmental setback that rippled through the roster and the organization’s competitive timeline.
For a team that was just starting to climb out of a rebuild, the lost months of growth, training, and cohesion mattered—and we’re still seeing the effects today. For instance, the remaining 14 games that were never played may have dictated which direction the Canucks would have potentially fired Jim Benning and Travis Green or those 14 games the Canucks core would have grown by leaps and bounds and clinched a playoff spot during a crucial game.
The Bubble playoffs wasn't the same ambiance and I think the Bubble year tested the Canucks core in other ways that shouldn't have happened in normal circumstances.
For a maturing core, the timing couldn’t have been worse. Instead of accelerating into their peak years, several players were forced into maintenance mode, losing a critical summer of growth.
The 2020 playoff bubble was fun—objectively so. Thatcher Demko’s legendary performance against Vegas, Horvat's star-making moments and the team’s unexpected playoff run injected hope into a city desperate for it.
But in hindsight, the bubble created misleading evaluations.
The bubble run wasn’t a sign of sustainable success—it was an anomaly fueled by goaltending heroics and a surreal environment. COVID’s distortion of reality pushed the Canucks down a path that cost them draft picks, cap flexibility, and developmental patience.
Consequently, the Canucks made bold moves in giving up a 2021 1st round pick for current top 6 forward Connor Garland. This trade to me only made sense if they could get back to the playoffs in 2022. Otherwise, the value of the 2021 1st round pick would be more valuable.
Similarly, the Hrornek and Marcus Petterson deals fall into the same category. I will gladly give up a 1st round pick to be in the 2nd round Game 7 16 months later.
The Marcus Petterson deal remains sketchy if the team is going to be around 500. They have given up too many draft picks before and after drafting them and haven't gotten the return in production.
A rebuild is not necessary, a Hughes trade could set this team up for years to come. They should be able to fetch four assets in return. Benning's rebuild of 1st round draft picks were Oli Juolevi, Elias Petterson, Quinn Hughes and lastly Podkolzin. They will get a framework of something like that in return. The defenseman in return wouldn't be as good as Quinn Hughes but their would a D-man coming back in return.
This is painful, but if there is anything that I have learned about being a Canucks fan its that we always bounce back within four years. The bounce backs always seem short lived unfortunately.
