Heading into the 2026-27 season, the Vancouver Canucks hope to have a better year than they did in 2025-26, especially after finishing last in the National Hockey League. While they are in the middle of a rebuild, there are some things to be excited for this upcoming season. Earlier in the week, we looked at three players 25 years or younger to watch.
In this edition, we will discuss which three forwards on the roster fans should watch this season. Despite being a team that might be fighting to progress up the NHL standings, these guys can hopefully provide some excitement for Canucks fans in 2026-27.
Brock Boeser
During the 2025-26 season, Brock Boeser finished with 22 goals and 48 points in 75 games, putting him second in goals and third in points. While it was a two-point dip compared to 2024-25, Boeser had six power-play goals and 19 power-play points, along with three game-winning goals.
Furthermore, he played most of the season split between the first and second line for former head coach Adam Foote. He averaged 19:03 of ice time, eating up a ton of minutes in the top six and on the top power play unit. It's been a couple of seasons since his breakout 2023-24 season, when he finished with 40 goals and 73 points in 81 games. Unfortunately, it's been a rough couple of seasons for the Canucks, especially after making the playoffs in 2024.
Last season, Boeser played the back part of the year with Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren. Those three did have some chemistry, but had trouble on the defensive side of things. Offensively, they clicked well. If they can manage to shut down a little more in their own zone under head coach Manny Malhotra, that line could be sneaky good for the Canucks.
Boeser has been a minus-25 and a minus-48 over the last two seasons, putting him at minus-81 for his career. Even if he can return to the plus-23, or somewhere near that, this season, that could go a long way. Plus, Boeser is entering the second season in his seven-year, $50.75 million deal. The hope is that year two under this current contract goes better than the first. Not all of it was on him; the team as a whole had a tough season.
Jake DeBrusk
Another guy who's looking for a bounce-back season is Jake DeBrusk. In his second season with the Canucks, he finished with 23 goals and 42 points in 81 games. DeBrusk ed the Canucks in goals and was fourth in points. However, that comes after tallying 28 goals and 48 points the year before, after signing a seven-year, $38.50 million deal ahead of the 2024-25 season.
For DeBrusk, he played most of the season with Elias Pettersson on the top line, while also being on the top power-play unit. He averaged 16:52 of ice time last season, the most of his career. What is mind-blowing about his numbers is that DeBrusk had 19 power-play goals, leaving him with four 5-on-5 goals last season. Plus, out of his 42 points, 24 came on the power play.
If DeBrusk can have better 5-on-5 play and not rely on special teams to score goals and rack up the points, the Canucks might be in a better spot overall. It's tough to see a guy play on the top line and only have four even-strength goals out of a team-leading 23.
Even if DeBrusk can return somewhere near his 2022-23 season, when he finished with 27 goals and 50 points, it could be a decent boost to the top six. Even the 2024-25 season saw him have 28 goals and 48 points. Anywhere near 50 or more points will be an improvement.
Brendan Gallagher
The final forward that we will highlight is the newcomer, Brendan Gallagher. After spending the first 14 seasons of his career with the Montreal Canadiens, he was traded to the Canucks on June 29 for future considerations. The Canadiens also retained half of his contract, meaning the Canucks only pay Gallagher $3.25 million in 2026-27.
During the 2025-26 season with the Canadiens, Gallagher had seven goals and 23 points in 77 games. It was a slight drop after having 21 goals and 38 points in 82 games the season before. It'll be interesting to see how Gallagher does in a new system for the first time in 14 seasons. He will be entering his 15th NHL season at 34 years old, and with something to prove.
What makes Gallagher an interesting player to watch for Canucks fans this upcoming season is his work ethic. He is someone who has a high motor and does not cheat the game. He is someone who gives his all on every shift. It's not clear where he could slot into the lineup come opening night, but putting him with Pettersson and DeBrusk could be a sneaky move from Malhotra to get those two going again.
However it plays out, Gallagher will be someone to keep an eye on in his first season with the Canucks. If he plays well and wants to stay, could there be a possible extension to keep him in Vancouver past the 2026-27 season?
Overall, there will be some growing pains in 2026-27 for the Canucks, especially when in a rebuild. However, all they can do is go up from their finish last season. If these three guys, along with others on the roster, have bounce-back years, there is a chance of not finishing in the bottom five or ten in the NHL this season. Either way, is it hockey season yet?
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