SURREY — Brock Boeser didn’t expect to be embarking on a rebuild in his 10th NHL season.
Yet that’s exactly where the veteran winger finds himself the Vancouver Canucks prepare for the 2025-26 campaign.
“You can never predict what happens in this league,” he said. ”Obviously (it’s been) a couple tough years, but we’re in a new chapter now … We’ve got to rebuild this culture back up and really get it going in the right direction.”
The Canucks hit rock bottom last season, finishing a distant last in the league just two years after a promising playoff race.
Over the summer, Vancouver overhauled its front office, hired a new head coach and parted ways with some veteran talent.
Now, with training camp set to open in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday, Boeser and his teammates are preparing for a season that could feel very different as several young players join the roster.
“As long as you’re coming to the rink every day, wanting to get better, I think management, (head coach Manny Malhotra) are going to hold us all to high expectations,” Boeser said at the team’s annual charity golf tournament in Surrey, B.C., on Monday.
“I think they’re going to expect us to come to the rink every day, work as hard as we can. I think if you take it day by day, show up, stick together as a team, we could have a way better year this year.”
One Canucks player looking to have a way better year is Elias Pettersson.
The 27-year-old centre finished last season with a team-high 51 points, but the 15 goals and 36 assists was well off the career-high 102-point campaign he logged in 2022-23.
The dip in offensive production came after he signed the richest contract in Canucks history back in March 2004. The eight-year pact carries an average-annual value of US$11.6 million.
“I just want to get back to myself,” Pettersson said. ”I haven’t been that for the last two years, but it’s the past. I’m coming in with a fresh mind. I’m excited to play hockey again.”
The Swedish forward said he knows he has a role to play in resetting the culture in Vancouver, and that he’ll do that by being himself, and practising and playing hard.
“Wins or losses, I think where we are, we’re just gonna try and stack the days, get better every day, and we’ll see where it takes us,” he said. “Yes, we’re a young team but I think if you do good things, good things can happen.”
The Canucks have parted ways with a number of their top players over the last year, including captain and star defenceman Quinn Hughes.
December’s blockbuster deal signalled the beginning of Vancouver’s rebuild, with the team receiving a first-round draft pick, centre Marco Rossi, rookie defenceman Zeev Buium and winger Liam Ohgren in return. All three players were under 25 years old at the time of the trade.
Further moves were made ahead of the NHL trade deadline in March, with winger Conor Garland getting shipped to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Kiefer Sherwood being dealt to the San Jose Sharks.
Vancouver then lost stalwart centre Teddy Blueger to free agency and traded journeyman defenceman Marcus Pettersson to the New York Rangers.
Amid the changes, the Canucks opted to keep marquee blueliner Filip Hronek.
The 28-year-old Czech defenceman was second on the team in scoring last season with eight goals and 48 assists over 82 contests.
“I committed here and I signed a contract here, and I knew I wanted to be here. And I’m excited for it,” Hronek said.
“Obviously, winning is really important, but I just don’t want to run away right away. So I think we can build something special here.”
Vancouver also added some league veterans over the summer, including former Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher and heavy hitting defenceman Luke Schenn.
Schenn, 36, is back for his third stint with the Canucks.
“This guy just loves Vancouver. He can’t stay away,” Boeser said with a smile. ”But no, he’s great. He’s already pushing us hard in practice, he’s pushing us, pushing guys in the gym, and he’s just a guy that comes to the rink and he’s just a pro every day. It’s a guy we need in our room.”
Boeser said he, too, will have work to do in helping a locker room full of young talent grow.
“I definitely feel like a way older guy this year compared to last year,” said the 29-year-old forward. ”So, just a guy that the younger guys can lean on, really try to set an example. Whether I’m having guys over for dinner or whatever it is, I’m just trying to be a veteran now.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2026.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
