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.

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.

As I watched these new-look Anaheim Ducks play with abandon all over the ice on Wednesday night, I found myself thinking about whether this quack-quack squad had any lessons to bestow on your Vancouver Canucks.

The Vancouver Canucks hit the road for a four-game road trip, beginning Wednesday night with a battle against the Anaheim Ducks. Wednesday night’s game will be the first matchup between the two Pacific Division squads.

Welcome back to another edition of NHL Predictions. Each day, our writers here at Last Word On Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats,

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.

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

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.