The Vancouver Canucks have embraced a full-on rebuild. That was the most logical path forward after the massive sell-off over the last couple of seasons. The Quinn Hughes trade pretty much sealed the organization’s fate.
So, there’s really no question about Vancouver going down that rabbit hole. The issue taking up precious real estate in fans’ minds is: How long will the rebuild take?
That’s a tough question to answer. But The Athletic took a very good stab at it. And the answer isn’t one that fans are going to like.
In a recent piece, Corey Pronman had this to say about the Canucks’ ongoing rebuild. A word of caution: It isn’t pretty.
“Vancouver is embracing a rebuild, and that’s a good thing, but it should not be understated how much work and pain is ahead. The Canucks are basically starting from square one again, especially if they deal Elias Pettersson at some point, and it could be a five-to-10 year process to become relevant again.”
A decade?
That’s rough. But when looking at other rebuilds, that could actually be the right timeline. The Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, and Anaheim Ducks are all within the five-year timeframe. Meanwhile, other teams like the Buffalo Sabres took over a decade. The Detroit Red Wings, for their part, are about a decade into the process and have no end in sight.
But there might be a way out. That way out depends on a crucial element.
The Canucks Need a Superstar to Build Around
The first thing Vancouver needs is pretty evident: more high-end talent.
The Canucks have some intriguing pieces, but rebuilding teams don’t become contenders simply by accumulating a bunch of good players. Eventually, they need someone who can become the centerpiece of the entire operation.
That’s the part of this rebuild that could take the longest.
Vancouver needs a player who can eventually become the guy opponents have to game-plan around every night. Someone capable of scoring 40 goals, driving a line and carrying a team through a playoff series.
Those players are incredibly difficult to find.
The Canucks did have that kind of player in Quinn Hughes. Alas, Hughes decided he wasn’t going to stick around and Vancouver traded him for a haul. But those pieces aren’t the same thing as a superstar.
That’s why the draft becomes so important.
The Canucks need to maximize every opportunity to acquire elite talent, whether that’s through the draft, trades or eventually free agency.
Until they find that player, it’s difficult to see this rebuild making a dramatic leap forward.
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Vancouver Needs to Build Around That Superstar
Finding the superstar is only half the job.
Once the Canucks have one, they need to build properly around their cornerstone.
That’s where this could become a five-to-ten-year process rather than a quick turnaround.
The good news is that Vancouver’s current management appears to understand that. New general manager Ryan Johnson has already emphasized avoiding long-term commitments that could create problems later, while the organization has added veterans such as Luke Schenn and Brendan Gallagher to help establish a better culture around its younger players.
That’s sensible.
The Canucks don’t need to rush this.
They need to accumulate draft capital, develop their young players and avoid taking shortcuts simply because fans are tired of losing.
That’s easier said than done, of course.
At some point, the organization will have to turn those assets into a legitimate core. And when it does, everything should revolve around finding that one player who can become the face of the next great Canucks team.
Until then, this isn’t really a rebuild with a finish line in sight.
It’s the beginning of one.
And Canucks fans should probably expect the road ahead to be considerably longer than they would like.
Canucks Have a Bigger Rebuild Ahead Than Most Fans Realize