Filip Hronek isn’t backing away from Vancouver’s rebuild.
Even after the Canucks spent last season in a full teardown and finished with a .354 points percentage - tied with their 1998-99 team for third-lowest in franchise history - the Czech top-pair defenseman is still saying he wants to see it through. According to David Alter of The Hockey News, Hronek made that clear while speaking at the European Players Media Tour.
“We like the city, and obviously, the fans are great in Vancouver. They were supporting us even though we didn’t have a good year last year, and they still are showing up to the games, and it was sold out, just like it overall in Vancouver, and that’s why I signed there for eight years.”
Hronek remains one of the most important players on the roster, and he showed it in 2025-26. He finished with 49 points, second on the Canucks behind Elias Pettersson, and led the team in ice time at exactly 25 minutes per game over a full 82-game season.
That kind of production would have made him a tempting trade piece in March, but his agent, Allan Walsh, shut down any talk of moving him during the season. Vancouver also has Hronek locked into an eight-year, $7.25MM contract with a full no-move clause through 2028, meaning any deal in that window would need his approval.
The idea of a player at his level wanting out wouldn’t have been surprising, especially with Hronek among the club’s highest-paid players and fresh off competing with a strong Czech Olympic Team at the 2026 Milan games. He also brings serious mileage: 533 career NHL games, part of a Canucks roster whose total NHL experience sits at 7,672 games, fifth-fewest in the league.
The commitment matters because Vancouver’s picture has changed fast. Hronek signed his deal after the Canucks rode a 50-win, 109-point season in 2023-24.
By year three of that contract, most of the players from that near-conference-final group are gone, and the team used the third overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft. Even so, Hronek appears ready to stay in the middle of it and help push the Canucks back up the standings.
There’s a case for either path. Trading him would open more ice time for the club’s younger players and could bring back additional pieces in return.
But replacing Hronek wouldn’t be simple. His leadership, poise against tough matchups, and track record as someone who has already been through plenty at the NHL level give him value that doesn’t show up cleanly in a stat line.
Hronek is hoping the Canucks get better, and Vancouver is adding veterans such as Luke Schenn, Brendan Gallagher, Jamie Oleksiak, and Paul Cotter to help guide the next wave.
In Other News...
Canucks Fans Are Getting An Early Look At A Very Different Roster
The Canucks are already back on the ice, even if training camp is still a little ways off. Informal skating sessions began at Rogers Arena ahead of camp opening Sept. 17 in Penticton, and Mondays group offered an early glimpse of a roster that looks notably different after a busy summer. Sixteen current players were identified skating, including new additions Brendan Gallagher, Jamie Oleksiak, Luke Schenn and Paul Cotter.
For Vancouver, the timing matters because these workouts are happening around a building that is already juggling other events. Rogers Arena has upcoming concerts on the calendar, which means players will need to keep finding alternative ice on certain dates. It is a small reminder that camp is approaching fast, and that the Canucks are trying to build chemistry in an environment where even the early reps come with a bit of logistical juggling. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Winger Situation Still Feels Unsettled As Trade Buzz Builds
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Boeser stands out as the more movable name because of the stronger trade market around him, even if his full no-movement clause runs through 2028-29. DeBrusk brings a different challenge, with uneven even-strength production and a no-movement clause that covers 2026-27, leaving Vancouver in a familiar position of having to balance player protection, on-ice fit and whatever interest might develop once other teams sort out their own needs. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Fans Just Got An Early Look At Malhotras Fixes
Manny Malhotra is wasting no time putting structure around his first Canucks coaching staff, assigning clear responsibilities well before training camp opens in mid-September. Ryan Mougenel will handle the offence and power play, Jordan Smith will take on the defensive side and the penalty kill, and Jason Krog will help guide offensive principles along with individual player development.
For a team trying to sharpen its identity under a new head coach, those early assignments offer an immediate glimpse at how Malhotra wants the bench to function. The details matter because the coaching staff will be working with the group soon, and the way those duties are divided should give the Canucks a more defined plan as camp gets underway. [Read more 🡒]