2025-26 Prediction Thread

[Cornuck]

Ok - what's going to happen, what could happen, and what won't happen?

If all goes well - what could happen?

If all goes wrong - what could happen?

If we get a mix of good and bad (the usual) - what will happen?

Does EP40 bounce back with a strong offensive year?

How about the health of Chytil and Demko?

Does Hughes have another level?

Which prospects stick?

[rats19]

100% say 2nd or third round

Edit: 33%

[Megaterio Llamas]

It's going to be a battle!

[Picker of Cherries]

All the way baby, just like every year.

[Cornuck]

All the way baby, just like every year.

That's why we watch, right?

[Cousin Strawberry]

If all goes well I can see them challenging for 1st or 2nd in the division. Edmonton may be in for a step backwards and Vegas is starting to show some cracks in that D.

Much of this almost entirely hinges upon Pettersson's shoulders to return to ppg+ production levels to go along with a healthy season out of QH and Snatcher Demko. Chytil staying off the IR would help as well

If all goes wrong then Quinn is gone and there will be some sort of rebuild. There could even be a change in the front office.

I'm liking the style of play the coaching staff has implemented so am quite hopeful that we are in for a good season. I'll call 2nd in the pacific

[Cornuck]

I'm hopeful for this year. We have a solid D and good-to-great goaltending. Forwards range from meh to stars, so there will be some challenges to score consistently. I think we'll fall into a defensive style because of this, so we'll win - it just won't be exciting hockey most nights.

Still, I think we have what it takes to finish high in the division and make the playoffs. We'll win the first round and start planning the parade.

There's a lot that could go wrong with this season, but I think the odds of a total breakdown are low.

2nd or 3rd round, with something to build on at the season's end.

[Ronning's Ghost]

If all goes well - what could happen?

If all goes wrong - what could happen?

The range is so huge, it's hard to see where any one outcome is more likely than another.

The large number of question marks has been described in other posts. If all of them come up at 90% or more of optimal, the 3rd round is reasonably likely. If they all come up adverse, then tire fire
(silver lining if the Little Eagles sell in disgust, and the new owners green light a proper re-build).

If it's the usual mix, then it depends on which things were good, which were bad, and how good, and how bad.

...with something to build on at the season's end.

This is the one outcome I consider least likely. The new talent pipeline is thin, and internal development/rebound is already on the list of "things that have to go right" for any kind of playoff success. If everything goes right, this is peak Canucks for a while, unless a longshot late round pick or a swap of disappointing draft picks / new scenery recovery project hits huge, and the next goaltending prospect is ready to step into top-form Demko mode as soon as he falters.

[Gmac]

Long time canucks fan! First time poster to your forum and I can thank Rats 19 for inviting me.
I've decided to not expect anything this year and just enjoy hockey and the Canucks for what they are. Whatever that turns out to be. I've come close to giving up and changing teams many times but I just can't do it.
Enjoy the season.

[Cornuck]

I've come close to giving up and changing teams many times but I just can't do it.
Enjoy the season.

Welcome GMac - yes, it's not easy being a Canucks fan. And just accepting what comes is a good course of action.

After 55 years of hockey-hate, I'd have trouble switching at this point. I'd rather just not watch, like during the messier years.

[rats19]

Long time canucks fan! First time poster to your forum and I can thank Rats 19 for inviting me.
I've decided to not expect anything this year and just enjoy hockey and the Canucks for what they are. Whatever that turns out to be. I've come close to giving up and changing teams many times but I just can't do it.
Enjoy the season.

Hey Gmac nice to have you here. I think if it came to that for me…. I’d switch my dedication sport to baseball.

Not sure I could change teams..

Did you enter the pool?

[Lancer]

Long time canucks fan! First time poster to your forum and I can thank Rats 19 for inviting me.
I've decided to not expect anything this year and just enjoy hockey and the Canucks for what they are. Whatever that turns out to be. I've come close to giving up and changing teams many times but I just can't do it.
Enjoy the season.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

One can call it sunken-cost fallacy, but I just can't quit this team. In for a penny, in for a pound... just a question of a pound of what in any given season.

[Chef Boi RD]

Wildcard competitors. Should sneak in back door, 1st rd bounce, should be drafting between 17th/18tb OA in 2026, if they don’t trade the pick.

[5thhorseman]

You just know it's going to be just miss or 1st round bounce, but I'm voting ...

ALL THE WAY BABY!!!

[Madcombinepilot]

100% say 2nd or third round

Edit: 33%

1/3 of the time, Ratster is correct 100% of the time.