Patrik Allvin gives his thoughts on Canucks’ roster heading into 2025-26 NHL season

We’re just one more day away from the start of the Vancouver Canucks‘ 2025-26 regular season. We’ve had the opening night roster since Monday, and have plenty of time to chew on it. We’ve had plenty of time to heap praise onto the Canucks’ exciting young prospects, dissect line combinations, and reflect on the preseason as a whole.

On the roster and why fans should be excited about this team:

“I think we have a good mix here with the older guys [who have] been here in the past, and some of the younger guys coming up from Abbotsford and Braeden Cootes coming in from junior hockey. So I think it’s a good mix and it’s been [a] very inspiring training camp leading up to this point. So I think the team is ready and the staff is ready to get going here.”

On Braeden Cootes making the team and if his stay could be extended beyond nine games (at which point the club would burn the first year of his entry-level contract):

“I think we owe it to Braeden that he earned his way to be here today and looking like he’s playing on Thursday. But I think we’ve got to be a little bit careful here and evaluate as we go along. No difference from what we have done since he earned his first game in Seattle and continued to earn another day. So he’s young, but he’s playing a very, very mature game. So we’ll see here as we move along.”

Allvin also offered injury updates on Teddy Blueger and PO Joseph, which we broke down yesterday.

On if Blueger’s injury helped make the decision to keep Braeden Cootes around easier:

“Not really. I think Braeden had earned his way onto the opening night roster regardless.”

On Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who is set to open the season on a line with Braeden Cootes and Evander Kane.

“I think he learned a lot being in the American League last year, getting a taste of the National Hockey League [as well]. Had a really short but good summer. Came in in good shape here, and I think he just continued to grow every day in camp. [He] seems to have a different swagger and confidence, and I like how Evander Kane has helped the young guys there on that line.”

And finally, the question on everyone’s mind heading into the new season. Is this a playoff team?

“I believe in the team we have here. We all know the parity of the league and the condensed schedule and health but we’re very excited about the group we have here and more so how they come together and how they bought into the coaches and how we want to play. They seem to have enjoyed coming to the rink and there has been a lot of laughs and coming together as a team has been important for Adam [Foote], and I give the players a lot of credit.”

Watch the full Allvin scrum below!