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10 Takeaways From The First 10 Games Of The Canucks’ 2026–27 Season

The Vancouver Canucks entered their 2026–27 campaign with a mixed bag after 10 games, finishing with a 2–7–1 record following a 4–2 setback to the Tampa Bay Lightning. While their penalty-kill unit has shown significant improvement, posting a perfect game against the New York Islanders and surrendering just one power-play goal since, their overall defensive play remains inconsistent.

The standout storylines have revolved around the Pettersson siblings, with forward Elias Pettersson leading the team in scoring with 10 points in 10 games and defenseman Elias Pettersson elevated to the top pairing after a strong start. Goaltender Leevi Meriläinen, acquired off waivers, has also been a bright spot, recording a .920% or higher save percentage in three of his four starts, though close losses have occasionally overshadowed his efforts.

Meanwhile, defensive concerns persist, as key players like Filip Hronek and Zeev Buium have struggled early, prompting roster adjustments with veterans Jamie Oleksiak and Luke Schenn seeing reduced ice time in favor of younger defenders Victor Mancini and Guillaume Brisebois. The Canucks’ emphasis on speed, highlighted by the trade sending Aatu Räty to Toronto for Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr, continues to shape their approach under head coach Manny Malhotra.

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