Great News! New Huggie is Better Than Old Huggie. We so won that trade.

Bad news... we didn't get to razz Jack... because Faeries.

Here's what we learned: The new Nucks era has a good and lucky start. And that's just fine.

Canucks outchanced and outshot the Devils early. And even better. Outscored them too!

You know what makes getting over losing Huggie? Winning! I know, in order to win BIG long term, Nucks need to lose short term. However, losing the best Nucks player - as it turns out - best Nucks player who didn't want to be here long term, isn't the really best for us.

Anyhow, to take that edge off losing Huggie and discovering he never wanted to be in Vancouver long term, we needed this win. Just to take the edge off. We're not hooked on winning. We can give up winning anytime we want. Just not today.

Anyways, this compensation win was won and over in the 1st period! Not making it up.

Period 1

Not even a minute in and some little Devil was called for slashing Gnarland.

The old Huggieless Nucks PP went to work quickly. New Huggie, Zeev Buium (Boozy is the working nickname), sets up the sequence like a pro - with the fancy bank off the boards pass to DeBrusk. Gnarly gets a pass from DeBrusk who goes to the net front to receive the pass back and scores on his own rebound!

We like the new guy!

Jake DeBrusk scores his first goal in 11 games. #canucks ##nhl

— Pasi Tuominen (@pasituominen.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 9:44 AM

Hughes was holding the power play back. #canucks

— Nick Toren (@nicktoren.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 9:44 AM

And the new Huggie is just getting started.

Five minutes later the Nucks are back on the PP and our new PP quarterback is playing with the full quarter and backing of the hockey gods. Fires a pass to Bess in front of the net. Brock can't tip it. But Dillon can. Who hasn't even signed up for Nucks PP scoring!

That's the GWG! Really.

New guy is helping us get over our grieving period real fast.

Zeev a goal and an assist 7 minutes into 1st period!

Quinn who?

-- Ripper

Who?

-- Westy

How much did we need to see this?

A lot. And probably more.

Yay...we are....fabulous!!! #Canucks

— Terry & dog 🦮...🇨🇦🍁 (@aweebitdaft.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 9:46 AM

And as ever, we're conflicted about short term pain vs long term not as much pain.

We're gonna blow the tank aren't we? When Petey comes back and IF Chytil comes back and IF Demko stays healthy we are a much better team than the one pre-Hughes. #Canucks

— DJTaxman77 (@taxman77.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 9:46 AM

Oh my, #Canucks. I want you to win so badly, while I also want you to lose at the same time. 😵‍💫

— 101stDamnation 🇺🇦 (@101stdamnation.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 9:47 AM

Doesn't matter.

What matters is that we were able to witness, at an ungodly hockey time for a game, that little glimmer of something we haven't seen in a long time... the promise, the hope, the distant possibility Canucks could play as a hockey team on ice and not drama queens off ice.

Canucks look like a hockey team

Not sure I want this. I would like the Canucks to get McKenna.

Maybe Demko gets his groove back and he gets traded.

-- Westy

You can't always get what you want. But we got what we need. Leading 2-0 - leading on not 1 but TWO PP goals - in a far east rink after the biggest trade in franchise history. Or so they say.

Also Special Teams Note: Not only did the Nucks score on both their 1st period chances, the Nucks PK killed off a 5-on-3, that as ever shouldn't have happened. But when the hockey gods are blessing your PP and Demko, your PK, you don't ask why or how, you just nod and smile.

And smiling we were.

Honestly the moves have made me interested in watching again. Still sorting out the feels. #Canucks

— Optimistic Canuck (@optimisticcanuck.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 9:57 AM

I'm really happy about Buium getting a goal so soon. Not for any stats or wins, but for team and fan psychology. I was really afraid of a long adjustment period with people dumping on the new guys because of how much we loved QH. #Canucks

— Ryan avgtraveller (@viewfromtherog.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM

Turns out, we able to forget about Quinn Who in under 8 minutes of hockey. While millionaire players can be mercenaries for millions, we fans can be fickle for free.

Period 2

This period wasn't nearly as redemptive as the previous glorious period of unmitigated winning.

In fact, in near total disregard for our Canucks and their fans needs, the little Devils came back with some push back. A little too pushy for our tastes.

Not only did the Jersey jerseys dominate in the Nucks zone, they outshot us 13-6. How rude!

And worse, guess whose little brother broke our unassailable 2 goal lead?

Yeah, cool hands Luke. Scored after an end-to-end breakout from their own end - in a very unsporting way - as two Canucks were left behind the Jersey net asking for Marky's thoughts on the big trade news.

As the period wore on, we started to recognize the Canucks play as something eerily familiar.

#Canucks getting outshot 11-4 late 2nd. New guys bump over, regular basement service restored.

— NucksMisconduct (@nucksmisconduct.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM

Shots 20-6 for the devils since the end of the first. The more things change...

-- Twitch

And even when it looks bad, this season it looks good! It's like a win-win with an indeterminate amount of losing in between.

I was worried Zeev was going to interfere with the tank, but this second period confirmed that the tank is still rolling. #Canucks

— fuzzysnack (@fuzzysnack.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 11:07 AM

The New Huggie Nucks lead 2-1 after 2nd period. It's all the lead we need. No really.

Period 3

With the game far out of reach of the little Devils, the young, freshly refreshed Canucks could sit back and let destiny and more importantly, Demko, bring the game home.

I think we are officially the 2025 Maple Leafs now. Hoping the goalie can win every game. Getting sleepy. #Canucks

— DJTaxman77 (@taxman77.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 11:50 AM

For a very long time, it seemed the Canucks wouldn't even get a single shot on net. However, recent hot streak shooter dispelled that sit-back notion with a hard shot right on Marky. Fine. It wasn't very hard and an easy stop for Marky. However, DeBrusk was letting him know he could shoot from anywhere at anytime and just chose not to.

On and on, the Jersey shores lapped up to Demmer's paint, but no further. The Devils emptied their net and still couldn't get another goal over Demko's line.

Devils outshot, in vain, Nucks, 8 to 1 in the 3rd as the new crew Canucks held on to WIN 2-1!

We were left in both jubilation and trepidation. Being conflicted is a Nucks hockey fan's strength. Or more of a pass time.

Whoohoo #canucks win 2-1 NJD 💙💚🤍

— UK_Alex Brown (@alexb78.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 12:04 PM

Wooooooo!! #Canucks new Hughes-free era begins with a 2-1 massive blowout over the Devils - with a slightly exaggerated blowout declaration.

— NucksMisconduct (@nucksmisconduct.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 12:07 PM

Not all cele time, tho.

Canucks win.....yay?

-- Westy

Hughes or no Hughes, we still got worked. That was 2 brutal periods of hockey. #Canucks

— fuzzysnack (@fuzzysnack.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 12:07 PM

OBSERVATIONS:

• Nucks scored twice on the PP - with new Huggie!
• Despite all the winning 32nd spot is still secure.
• This Quitter Hughes transition may not be as horrible as expected.

First game since opening night that the Canucks allowed less than 2 goals against. #Canucks #Tank

— iamnelsonc.bsky.social (@iamnelsonc.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 12:11 PM

Honest to goodness, I’m shocked as the rest of you all that Quinn Hughes was what was holding the #Canucks back from wins this season. Absolutely floored.

— Chris Golden (@lyteforce.ca) December 14, 2025 at 12:14 PM

Yeah, the #Canucks won! 🥳 Oh no! The #Canucks won. 😕 Today I'm happy, but I hope it doesn't become a habit.

— 101stDamnation 🇺🇦 (@101stdamnation.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 12:19 PM

Should the #Canucks just trade for new players every game. We have had some incredible debuts over the years. Will never forget Greg Adams 1st game as a Canuck. #Canucks

— DJTaxman77 (@taxman77.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 12:35 PM

There is the bigger picture to consider. The big ol' '26 draft class and who gets to pick at the top.

...and with that win, the Canucks zoom up in the standings from 32nd to a slightly higher 32nd place! #Canucks

— Terry & dog 🦮...🇨🇦🍁 (@aweebitdaft.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 12:37 PM

Ice time for Nucks defense? Not a worry no more.

There are a lot of stats from today's #Canucks win but I think the most important is that for the fourth time this season, no played logged more than 25 minutes of ice time. Hronek led Vancouver with 24:57.

— Adam Kierszenblat (@adamkblat.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 12:46 PM

Could this be the turning point?

Huh. So that went well, then?

Demko is the most dangerous guy to all our hopes and dreams of a high draft position, but getting two points from the new defenceman is a nice gift. Beautiful goal, too!

Going 2-for-3 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the kill is as nice to see as anything else from today. Rossi's numbers look decent for his first game back, too. Would have liked more shots on goal.

-- Thursday

Too bad, I missed this game. I was really looking forward to see Buium.His older brother played with my son, so we know them well.

-- Atty

With Atty's approval of New Huggie, we're in the good place.

The good place which is the bad place. Can we stay there while watching the Nucks play important games and more importantly losing most of them?

We don't know. And today, don't care.

End of the 3rd. Trade race is tightening up. Huggie got a green goal. His 3rd of the season. An no assists. New Huggie Boozy, got a goal, 4th of the season AND an assist. We're still winning the trade! #Canucks (barely)

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— NucksMisconduct (@nucksmisconduct.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 5:45 PM

Huggie watch - 1st period: : 8:24 TOI - saving him for the 3rd? No shots, no goals, no points. New Huggie (Boozy) - 1st period: 1 goal and 1 assist. We WON the trade! #Canucks 😁

— NucksMisconduct (@nucksmisconduct.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 3:54 PM

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Shortie and Dave calling a big game on the Jersey Shores. Or Preferential Rink or something.

GAME STATS

COMMENTING OUT LOUD

New Huggie, Buium scores on his Nucking debut and explains it all. So does the smile.

Rossi, long sought by JR/PA, is finally a Canuck.

Continuing with the new guys motif, here's Öhgren.

No coaches were traded, still the same old Footsey uttering noise about the noises.

Vital win in the eastern grim time zone. A good start in the new Huggie-free era. Still many twists, turns and twisted finger pointing to endure.

Only a day to ponder the imponderables before the Nucks reunion tour gets up to speed.

New Era Nucks visiting JT and his Rags on Tuesday. Would be nice to beat them, but then lose to the Isles on Friday to maintain balance in the basement.

Have a happy Huggie grieving period.

Okay, seen clips of Quinn having a good time with the other guys. I want a mental divorce from him now. #Canucks

— Terry & dog 🦮...🇨🇦🍁 (@aweebitdaft.bsky.social) December 14, 2025 at 5:29 PM