In the Western Conference, the Edmonton Oilers are fifth in the wild-card race, followed by the Winnipeg Jets (sixth) and Vancouver Canucks (seventh), with the Calgary Flames second last in the west with 19 points, one ahead of last-place Nashville.

The Vancouver Canucks are reportedly willing to listen to trade offers, but there is a catch surrounding star Quinn Hughes.

This is about a 23-game body of work in which the Canucks have sputtered and struggled in just about every phase of the game.

BOTTOM LINE: The Vancouver Canucks face the San Jose Sharks in a matchup within the Pacific Division Friday. San Jose has an 11-10-3 record overall and a 2-3-2 record in Pacific Division games. The Sharks have a -10 scoring differential, with 67 total goals scored and 77 conceded.

The Vancouver Canucks will likely maintain the status quo this season regarding their captain's situation amid a tough year.

It was similarly telling that Vancouver decided to hang onto the 15th pick at the 2025 NHL Draft, shooting for a long-term solution at centre in favour of pursuing a short-term or flawed solution, like Marco Rossi, in the lead-up to the draft.

While many of the team’s more experienced players have some degree of trade protection, Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford will look to assess the market and see which of their players are expendable, as well as whether or not any who have the option to block trades would be willing to waive such protection to pursue a Stanley Cup.

The Canucks’ recent history underscores the volatility of sports franchises. Eighteen months ago, the team was a strong contender, reaching the playoffs and showcasing a promising core. However, internal dynamics and personality clashes have led to a significant downturn.