1. Defensive Fragility Still Lingers.
Despite a convincing 4-1 win, the Canucks' defensive issues were on full display. Giving up 17 turnovers in a game, especially against a team like the Oilers with McDavid and Draisaitl, is a glaring concern. The defensive structure seemed shaky at times, allowing several clean looks for Edmonton. Vancouver got away with it in preseason, but this fragility won’t hold up in the regular season.
2. Quinn Hughes is the Best Player on the Team.
Let’s be real: Hughes is everything for this Canucks squad. He opened the scoring, leading the charge from the back end, but his true value is in how he controls the game. Hughes can dictate the tempo both offensively and defensively, and his ability to read the play and neutralize opponents is elite. Whether on the power play, penalty kill, or even strength, Hughes is consistently the Canucks' most impactful player.
3. Special Teams Look Promising.
One bright spot was Vancouver’s special teams. The power play clicked with a second-unit goal from Bains, which is great to see. The puck movement and positioning were sharper than what we saw from the top unit. On the flip side, the penalty kill did an excellent job shutting down Edmonton’s highly rated power play, a huge confidence boost going into the regular season.
4. The Forward Lines Are Starting to Gel.
The chemistry between Elias Pettersson, DeBrusk and Sprong was promising. The Swede's ability to create chances shone, and the new faces in the lineup looked comfortable in their roles. If this trio can keep building on their early success, Vancouver might find some much-needed scoring depth this season.
5. Raty's Rough Night.
Aatu Raty didn’t have his best game, especially defensively. His lost coverage after a faceoff miscue led to the Oilers' only goal of the night, breaking Arturs Silovs’ shutout. Mistakes like these are bound to happen in preseason, but it’s something the coaching staff will want him to clean up before the games start to matter.
Looking ahead now, while there are definite weak points, like the defensive fragility and turnovers, there’s also a lot of promise for the Canucks. Hughes continues to prove why he’s the leader of this team, and with the right adjustments, Vancouver might have a bright season ahead.