3 observations through 3 Canucks regular season games

We’re seeing him perform at the level he did in 2023-24 when he finished as the runner-up for the Vezina Trophy. If he continues at this level, he’s going to singlehandedly win the Canucks multiple games this season.

Evander Kane has struggled early

It hasn’t been a fantastic homecoming for Evander Kane. Through the first three games of his Canucks tenure, Kane has one assist, seven shots on goal and a minus-2 rating in 16:40 minutes of average ice time.

According to Natural Stat Trick, Kane has just three giveaways. While those counting stats might be accurate, he sure seems to have more by the eye test. Kane has thrown blind passes that exit the offensive zone, or he fires a weak shot on the half-wall on the power play that misses the net and rings around the boards and out of the zone. These don’t count as giveaways; however, these plays kill all the Canucks’ momentum and feel like a giveaway.

He might not have chemistry with his teammates just yet, and that’s affecting his on-ice play. But that’s expected, and should earn him a little leeway, for now. Let’s not forget, he missed the entire 2024-25 season, he’s 34 years old, and he’s trying to get acclimated to a new team.

It just hasn’t clicked for him yet. Eventually, he will find his game, but right now, he just looks a little off. Until he finds that again, maybe he would benefit from a role where he’s asked to do less and face off against some easier opponents to get his mojo back.

Kiefer Sherwood deserves a promotion

With the stars not shining in Vancouver, Kiefer Sherwood has been the Canucks’ best forward through the first three games. He scored the opening goal of the season off the rush and was the only Canuck to beat Jordan Binnington on Monday night against the Blues. Sherwood now leads the Canucks in points (3) this season, doing so in a fourth line role.

Here were the lines for that Blues game:

DeBrusk – Pettersson – Boeser
Kane – Chytil – Garland
O’Connor – Cootes – Lekkerimäki
Bains – Räty – Sherwood

Changes should be coming, as Adam Foote shuffled his lines halfway through the Blues game, Braeden Cootes was returned to the WHL, and Teddy Blueger’s looming return. But it’s easy to look at that lineup and see a few areas in which Sherwood could move up and produce.

As we mentioned, Kane could probably benefit from a little bit of a lesser role. If that’s the case, but the Canucks want to match his physicality in the top six, Sherwood could be the perfect candidate for his replacement.

The Canucks’ top forwards are not going right now. So why not put the hottest Canuck on a line with some of them in hopes of getting them going? Sherwood’s forechecking and speed could help the likes of Elias Pettersson, as he could use his speed to retrieve pucks on the forecheck and establish offensive zone pressure.

What do you think, Canucks fans? What are some observations you’ve noticed through the first three games of the season?