Canucks’ Youth Movement Is Taking Hold

It was one of those nights when young players didn’t just fill jerseys — they added to the team’s heartbeat. For a group still finding its way, that’s a strong early sign that the Canucks have some real depth coming.

The 2025-26 Season Has Brought a Fresh Crop of Canucks

During the preseason, the story wasn’t about who was missing or what went wrong last year. It was about who was stepping forward. Players like Lekkerimaki, Bains, Linus Karlsson, and Raty didn’t just show up from the Abbotsford Canucks—they arrived with purpose. These young forwards helped their American Hockey League (AHL) club win a Calder Cup in June, and they’ve brought that same energy to the big club in Vancouver.

They were joined by 18-year-old Cootes, the youngest player to make a Canucks opening roster in more than three decades. He’s quick, confident, and plays a mature game well beyond his years. Every once in a while, a player like that comes along and changes the tone around a team. That shift is happening now. The kids aren’t here to watch—they’re here to stay.

The Canucks Have Moved from Adversity to Optimism

Last season was rough. Injuries piled up, the team stumbled out of the gate, and frustration seemed to hang in the air. But this fall feels different. It’s as if the organization took a long breath, looked around, and decided to start again—with the right people. From the outside looking in, it would seem that the new coach is part of that process.

There seems to be a new energy around the team. You can feel it, even from a distance. Practices are sharper, players are more vocal, and the belief in the room seems genuine. It’s not about expecting miracles; it’s about rediscovering joy in the work.

And credit goes to Adam Foote and his coaching staff for creating that environment. They’ve leaned into development instead of panic, allowing young players to earn their roles naturally. The veterans have bought in, too. They see the energy the youth brings—and it’s contagious.

The Young Canucks Are a Team Within a Team

There’s another layer here: competition. These young Canucks push each other. They’ve come through the system together, battling for ice time in Abbotsford, learning how to win, and now chasing the next level together. That shared experience fosters trust and a deeper hunger.

As Bains put it recently, the group isn’t counting open roster spots—they’re just competing hard, day after day. That’s how a healthy team culture grows: not by entitlement, but by effort.

The veterans see it too. During the Canucks’ win last night, Brock Boeser (who scored yet another opening-night goal), now one of the longest-serving Canucks, was quoted as praising the team’s young players. He saw them flying around the ice and shared how fun it was to be part of the change. That says a lot about the team.

Are the Canucks Building into a Confident Team?

Vancouver’s not crowning itself a contender just yet. The NHL season is a long, unpredictable grind, and experience still matters. But there’s a quiet confidence building here. The team’s structure is tighter, the effort level higher, and the chemistry more natural.

It’s easy to forget that real rebuilds don’t happen overnight. They happen like this—through the steady integration of hungry young players who bring out the best in everyone around them.

The Canucks’ youth movement isn’t just about talent. It’s about renewal. It’s about a franchise rediscovering who it wants to be—and a fan base finally having a reason to look forward with hope instead of doubt. So yes, there’s still work to be done. But for the first time in a long time, the Canucks look like a team not just preparing for the future—they’re living it.