Just because the Vancouver Canucks were idle on trade-deadline day doesn’t mean there hasn’t been change.
When the Canucks lined up against the Minnesota Wild on Friday night at Rogers Arena, just nine of the 18 skaters on the team’s roster had been with the team at the end of the 2023-24 season.
And yes, that list included Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson — two of the team’s longest-tenured players, who both factored into the first-period power-play goal that opened the scoring in Vancouver’s 3-1 win over Minnesota.
While his offense has largely gone AWOL this season, Pettersson’s wicked one-timer looked like the type of tally that he used to deliver with regularity.
“It hasn’t been my best season, but I can’t change it,” he said after the game. “I’m just trying to get better every day, and today was a good day. We got the win, had a goal. Good practice tomorrow, and get ready for Sunday.”
Now winners of their last four on home ice, dating back to Feb. 4, the Canucks moved back into the second wild-card spot in the West on Friday. With 20 games to go, they’re one point ahead of the Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues, and three up on the Utah Hockey Club.
They’re also now just two points behind the Los Angeles Kings, who hold down third place in the Pacific Division but have two games in hand.
Vancouver plays five of its next six on home ice. Next up on Sunday, the Dallas Stars and their trade deadline prize, Mikko Rantanen.
After many observers expected Boeser, an impending UFA, to be moved before Friday’s deadline, he expressed gratitude on Friday night about still being in Vancouver.
“We’re right in the hunt for a playoff spot, so I think that’s our main focus right now,” he said. “Obviously, it’s kind of tough to focus on that with all the noise, but now I’m just so happy that it’s over with and I can really just focus on helping our team win games, and being better for our team.”
“We need to build off these couple wins. The fans have been great. We need to have a good day tomorrow and understand who we got on Sunday.”
🗣 Brock Boeser speaks on what the past couple days were like for him, focusing on the playoff push, and more.#Canucks | @theprovince pic.twitter.com/NTFRgDy3zJ
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 8, 2025
When asked if he’s still open to potentially signing a contract extension to remain in Vancouver beyond this summer, Boeser said,…