The Vancouver Canucks are heading into next season and there is a lot to prove. After the regular season turmoil and not making it to the playoffs, the biggest question is how to improve the team’s game. This is a simple and critical question first and foremost, Halford and Brought raised in their morning show: Who will drive the drama besides Quinn Hughes?
The owner likes to say that Hughes solidified himself as the engine of the Garner – “the straw that stirs the drink.” But he can’t stir it alone. Not in today’s NHL, of course not as a defender. Vancouver needs more. More rhythm, urgency and players are willing to control and say, “Give me the hockey.”
Related: 2025-26 Ganaks Roster Projection 1.0: Thin front, but strong defense and goalkeeper
So, who else is in the team forward team?
What does “stirring a drink” mean?
Halford and Brought use metaphors I have never heard in a while. They both talked about Hughes as a straw for “stopping drinks.” For young readers, “Straw of Excitement Drinks” is attributed to baseball superstar Reggie Jackson, who used it in the 1970s to describe his role with the New York Yankees. “I’m the straw that stirs the drinks. Maybe I should say Mumson and I, but he can only stir it.”
This sentence attracted him the feeling of being the driving force behind the team. Not surprisingly, it “caused” a lot of controversy at the time. However, it also shows that Jackson is very willing to strengthen and face the music. He wants the point; he is not afraid of it. The result is a player known as “Mr. October”. Which NHL team doesn’t want a player like Jackson to rise to the highest bet?
In their conversation, Halford and Brought debate who will step up the addition. That way, they are not only talking about talent or production. They point out that something more challenging (Tempo, creativity, and control) that is defined but easy to discover is willing to initiate, set the tone, rather than reacting to what is happening in the game.
Related: Tom Willander of Cannacks should play a big role next season
They argue that players like Brock Boeser (before the deal) JT Miller is more supportive of straw than drivers. (Given what happened, Miller might be Thurman Munson of Jackson to expand Jackson’s 30-year-old metaphor. While he seems to be trying to drive the team, the lack of teammates who want to jump into the car with him may be the reason for getting him to move.)
It wasn’t a knock on Booth and Miller’s ability. It’s just a recognition that when others are already in charge of the show, they often thrive. The Ganaks need is someone who sees ice like Hughes, someone who wants a hockey puck.
Enter Canucks newcomer Filip Chytil
A name surfaced by the host – almost by chance, but curious person is Filip chytil. Bruve quipped, “FIL is not a straw, but he has the characteristics of a straw.”
When Chytil first came to the team, I loved his game. Some of these suggest that he may turn into a speed change. Maybe not every change, maybe not every night, but enough to make a difference. He has speed. He has the first mentality of shooting. Perhaps most importantly, he has some unpredictable performance. This is something that humans lack outside Hughes – some people can open a game, or at least bend the ice slightly.
Chytil, part of the January deal, arrived in Vancouver, where the industry brought Miller to the New York Rangers. It’s a bold move, especially given Miller’s status as a top contributor, who can host a 100-point season. However, the front desk saw something in the weird way, which made the gambling worthwhile, and the early returns were promising.
In his Canucks debut, Chytil scored a goal, leading all Vancouver centers in ice time and facing off with dominance. He scored six points in his first nine games, including two assistant nights against the Los Angeles Kings, and a confident quarterback. He is quick, aggressive and eager to leave his mark.
Related: Canucks’ Hope: Structure, Goalkeeper and a Wildcard or two
Unfortunately, just like he seems to be playing a second-tier role, the concussion put him far ahead for the rest of the season. He finished the season with 13 goals and 26 points in 56 games between New York and Vancouver, which is not a breathtaking number, but is enough to suggest that he is staying healthy.
Canucks Chytil issues for the 2025-26 season
Looking ahead, Chytil is probably one of the most important “swing” players on the Canucks roster. Signed to 2026-27 at the age of 25, he entered his peak. He has the talent of a top six, a trail of possession, and a style of play that blends with Vancouver’s desperately needed game: speed, shot generation and a little bit of chaos in the middle.
If he can stay healthy and in the roster, he might be the balance changer. Don’t drink from Hughes, but stir while stirring on ice.
But maybe what Chytil might bring is more of the advantages the team needs to be happy to push the game. As Halford points out, deeper attention may be spiritual. Canucks often postpone the delay and wait for others to play. “You can’t have five guys delaying each other,” Halford noted. “When Hughes isn’t there, you need someone you want to control.”
That’s a way of thinking – a cultural change. Chytil may not be a full-blown game breaker, but he plays like him want to Make something happen – this may be enough.
What would have done if it weren’t for that guy?
Of course, this is still very big if. Chytil must stay healthy. He must take a step. But if he doesn’t, the Karnaks will look at a group of forwards again, leaning against the defensive players and unable to carry the rhythm.
Related: Dakota Joshua is the power forward of the Ganaks demand
Whether it’s Chytil, the re-energetic Elias Pettersson or the increase in offseason, it has to come. Because next season’s success is about how good Quinn Hughes will be, it will have to do with the help he gets.
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