Worst case scenario: The Canucks are set up well to sell big at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline

Nobody really knows how the Vancouver Canucks will perform in the 2025-26 season. Everyone has their own set of expectations, of course, but anyone who thinks they can predict what’s going to happen with certainty is just plain wrong.

The 2023-24 Canucks defied expectations by not just returning to the playoffs, but by taking the eventual Western Conference Champions to Game 7 of Round Two. Then, last season in 2024-25, the Canucks defied expectations in an entirely different way by falling apart as a team.

That swing in performance and outcome was so large that it’s left a massive range of possibilities on the table for the 2025-26 season. Some believe that the Canucks will return to the glory of two years ago. Some are just set on returning to the playoffs. Others think that last year was only the beginning of the collapse, and that the Canucks are in for even worse this time around.

And with this many possibilities on the table, it’s reasonable to play some of the worst and best-case scenarios out in order to see what the longer-term implications might be.

If the title of this article is a little negative for you, worry not – there is a positive side to this coin that will be published next. For now, however, we invite you to imagine a 2025-26 season in which the Canucks perform even worse on the ice than they did last season, to the point that they are well and clearly out of the playoffs by the time the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline rolls around in March.

This would be a disappointing result, no doubt, and it would potentially have devastating consequences for the likelihood of Quinn Hughes remaining with the team, or of Elias Pettersson ever bouncing all the way back. It would be a mighty dark cloud, but even the darkest clouds have silver linings, and the Canucks would likely find such a silver lining heading into the deadline.

That’s because, though it might not be part of ‘the plan,’ so to speak, the 2025-26 Canucks are set up particularly well to sell at the Trade Deadline, and to recoup some major assets as they do.

Typically, the most common currency sold at the deadline are pending UFAs, otherwise known as ‘rentals.’ Teams headed to the playoffs often pay big to supplement their rosters with temporary reinforcements from non-playoff teams; a transaction that Canucks fans are familiar with from either end.

The Canucks have four prominent pending UFAs heading into the season: Kiefer Sherwood, Teddy Blueger, Derek Forbort, and the newly-arrived Evander Kane.

And each and every one of those pending UFAs would be a smart, and potentially highly-sought-after, pickup for a playoff-bound team.

Let’s begin with Kiefer Sherwood. Still under contract for the duration of this season at a cap hit of $1.5 million, the question isn’t which playoffs teams might be interested in trading for Sherwood, but a question of who honestly wouldn’t?

Sherwood, famously, became the single-season record holder for hits last year. He also put up 19 goals and 40 points, but he doesn’t need to replicate those numbers this season for him to draw major deadline interest. Sherwood is a player literally built for the playoffs. Recall that he practically recruited himself to the Canucks with her performance against them in Round One of 2024. He hits everything that moves, he strikes suddenly with unexpected offence, and he can kill penalties, to boot. At a cap hit that virtually every team could easily integrate into their roster come deadline-time, it’s hardest to imagine a team that wouldn’t at least kick the tires on him.

And with that much interest, the bidding price should climb high. A second round pick seems all-but-guaranteed, and should Sherwood produce to the same level he did last year, then the Canucks are looking at a first round pick.

Actually, with all that said, Sherwood might be the player on the list that makes the most sense to sell, regardless of how the Canucks are performing as a team. But he’s not their only sellable asset.

The Vancouver faithful now has a good idea of how valuable centres can be, and how tough they can be to get one’s hands on. Which brings us to Blueger. Like with Sherwood, there’s plenty to like about Blueger specifically as a playoff pickup. He’s capable defensively, strong on the dot, and an expert penalty killer on one of the best PKs in the league.

In fact, when it comes to Blueger, we don’t have to speculate, because he’s already been targeted at the deadline by an eventual Cup-winner: the 2023 Vegas Golden Knights, who gave up a third and a prospect to acquire him. Sure, Blueger didn’t wind up playing all that much on that particular run, but Vegas paid for him all the same.

It could certainly be argued that Blueger has only raised his profile, and his trade value, since joining the Canucks. So, if the league-wide dearth of available centres continues unto the Trade Deadline, there’s a good chance someone is willing to pay more for him than Vegas once did.

When he signed with the Canucks, many thought Forbort was going to be just a run-of-the-mill extra veteran defender, the kind that gets flipped at the deadline for a fourth a couple times each year. But that hasn’t been the case. Instead, Forbort went from the pressbox to the top penalty killing unit, and if one player is owed any credit for the rise of the Vancouver PK last season, it’s Forbort.

Combine that PK leadership with his consistent physicality, willingness to stick up for teammates, and all-around good attitude, and Forbort remains a potential deadline depth pickup – but a very, very good one. Were the Canucks willing to retain on his $2 million cap hit, it seems like Forbort would be fairly high on the shopping list of virtually any playoff-bound team.

Like Blueger, Forbort has been sold near the deadline before, going from Los Angeles to Calgary for a fourth round pick back in 2020. Like Blueger, we think Forbort has effectively raised his trade value in Vancouver, and would probably return more than a fourth this time around.

In Sherwood, Blueger, and Forbort, the Canucks have three pending UFAs that would not just draw interest at the 2026 Trade Deadline, but who would draw almost universal interest. If that worst case scenario does come to pass, the Canucks can at least take some solace in the fact that they’ve got some near-guaranteed returns waiting for them here.

But the most intriguing name is the one we haven’t mentioned yet: Evander Kane.

Kane is a bit of a mystery box heading into 2025-26. He missed the entire most recent regular season, but he did score 24 goals and 44 points in 2023-24. He also paced for 30 goals in the seven regular seasons leading up to that.

Should Kane bounce back to anywhere near production like that, he’d become one of the most productive UFA forwards available at the deadline. But unlike most goal-scorers, Kane would also bring with him an abundance of postseason-proven physicality – only Sam Bennett has thrown more playoff hits over the past three years.

Kane is a potential impact deadline pickup in a few different categories. Given that the increasing salary cap has led to more teams retaining their own talent, and thus fewer players available at the deadline in general, there’s a good chance that Kane is the best or among the very best scorers available. And the odds of anyone else being made available with his power forward chops are slim to none.

What we’re saying here is that Kane could end up looking like a very unique, very desirable asset come deadline time. If he can stay both healthy and controversy-free in Vancouver for the duration of the regular season, that would also remove some of the question marks surrounding him, and increase the number of teams looking to take a chance.

So, should that worst case scenario come to pass, and should the Canucks be well and truly out of the playoff picture come March 2026, then they’ll at least have four fairly unique, highly-desirable pending UFAs to get value out of.

It might be a small solace at that point. But the returns, at least, won’t be insignificant.

The Receipt That Changed Everything: Maxx Crosby’s Quiet Gesture Sparks National Wave of Kindness

For 24-year-old Lily Thompson, a waitress at a modest downtown Las Vegas diner, Monday morning began like any other. She poured coffee, took orders, and greeted guests with her usual warmth—never imagining that a quiet customer in a hoodie and baseball cap would alter the course of her life forever.

That customer was none other than Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby. Unassuming and polite, Crosby finished his breakfast without fanfare, thanked Lily for her service, and walked out the door. But what he left behind on the table was no ordinary tip.

A Folded Receipt… and a New Beginning

After Crosby left, Lily found a folded receipt tucked beneath the salt shaker. Expecting a typical gratuity, she opened it—and froze. Inside was a handwritten note and something that would reduce her to tears.

“Thank you for your kindness and hard work. People like you are the backbone of this country. Keep going—you’re stronger than you know.” – Maxx Crosby

Alongside the note: a $10,000 tip. And a personal offer to pay off her student loans in full.

Coworkers rushed to comfort Lily as the weight of the moment sank in. “I was speechless,” she told reporters. “I’ve been juggling two jobs and caring for my younger brother while chipping away at debt. That note didn’t just help financially—it made me feel seen.”

From Quiet Struggles to Bold Dreams

Lily’s story quickly captured hearts nationwide. What had begun as a simple meal turned into a viral sensation, with fans flooding social media to praise Crosby’s compassion. The hashtag #BeLikeMaxx began trending, encouraging everyday acts of kindness in his honor.

For Lily, the gesture meant more than money—it marked the beginning of a new chapter. With her student loans erased, she’s now pursuing her dream of launching a nonprofit café that supports working students.

Crosby Responds With Humility

When asked about the now-famous tip during a press conference, Crosby shrugged off the attention.

“It’s not about how much you give. It’s about noticing the people who make life better—often without credit. Lily reminded me of that.”

A Ripple Felt Across the Nation

What could’ve been a private act of kindness has become a rallying cry for compassion. Fans, teammates, and strangers alike have shared their own stories, inspired by Crosby’s gesture.

As for Lily, she keeps the handwritten note tucked inside her journal. “It’s my reminder,” she said, smiling. “That even when life feels heavy, there are still people out there rooting for you.”

In a world too often defined by headlines of division, Maxx Crosby’s quiet moment in a Las Vegas diner reminds us that greatness isn’t just measured in yards gained—but in lives touched.

For 24-year-old Lily Thompson, a waitress at a modest downtown Portland diner, Monday morning began like any other. She poured coffee, took orders, and greeted guests with her usual warmth—never imagining that a quiet customer in a hoodie and baseball cap would alter the course of her life forever.

That customer was none other than Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix. Unassuming and polite, Nix finished his breakfast without fanfare, thanked Lily for her service, and walked out the door. But what he left behind on the table was no ordinary tip.

A Folded Receipt… and a New Beginning

After Nix left, Lily found a folded receipt tucked beneath the salt shaker. Expecting a typical gratuity, she opened it—and froze. Inside was a handwritten note and something that would reduce her to tears.

“Thank you for your kindness and hard work. People like you are the backbone of this country. Keep going—you’re stronger than you know.” – Bo Nix

Alongside the note: a $10,000 tip. And a personal offer to pay off her student loans in full.

Coworkers rushed to comfort Lily as the weight of the moment sank in. “I was speechless,” she told reporters. “I’ve been juggling two jobs and caring for my younger brother while chipping away at debt. That note didn’t just help financially—it made me feel seen.”

From Quiet Struggles to Bold Dreams

Lily’s story quickly captured hearts nationwide. What had begun as a simple meal turned into a viral sensation, with fans flooding social media to praise Nix’s compassion. The hashtag #BeLikeBo began trending, encouraging everyday acts of kindness in his honor.

For Lily, the gesture meant more than money—it marked the beginning of a new chapter. With her student loans erased, she’s now pursuing her dream of launching a nonprofit café that supports working students.

Nix Responds With Humility

When asked about the now-famous tip during a press conference, Nix shrugged off the attention.

“It’s not about how much you give. It’s about noticing the people who make life better—often without credit. Lily reminded me of that.”

A Ripple Felt Across the Nation

What could’ve been a private act of kindness has become a rallying cry for compassion. Fans, teammates, and strangers alike have shared their own stories, inspired by Nix’s gesture.

As for Lily, she keeps the handwritten note tucked inside her journal. “It’s my reminder,” she said, smiling. “That even when life feels heavy, there are still people out there rooting for you.”

In a world too often defined by headlines of division, Bo Nix’s quiet moment in a Portland diner reminds us that greatness isn’t just measured in yards gained—but in lives touched.