Training camp is still weeks away, but the Canucks are already heading into one of the most revealing parts of their year. Vancouver opens camp in Penticton on September 17, and for a team that’s expected to spend the 2026-27 season near the bottom of the standings, the real intrigue is less about wins and losses and more about who arrives with the most on the line.
That’s the big question now: who in Canucks camp has the most to prove?
On a roster full of uncertainty, there’s no shortage of candidates. Some players are trying to re-establish themselves.
Others are fighting to force their way into bigger roles. And a few are walking into camp with the kind of pressure that comes from needing to show they belong in the picture at all.
The loudest name in the mix is Elias Pettersson, and plenty of fans are treating him like the obvious answer. Some believe he’ll bounce back in a big way, with one reader calling for a strong year and another saying he could get close to a point per game. Others went even higher, projecting 84 points in 84 games or 81 points for a player who can “reinvent himself” in a new setting with a new group of coaches and players.
A few posts tied that pressure directly to his market value. One fan said it “better be EP40 or it will determine he’s not worth much on the trade market,” while another argued that if he can’t lead this roster, “it’s a bad thing for him and the team.” The general theme was clear: Pettersson is still viewed as the standard-bearer, and camp will be one more chance to show he can drive this group.
Marco Rossi was the other name that came up again and again. Several fans picked him as the Canucks’ top scorer next season, with predictions ranging from 61 points to 71 and even more.
One reader pointed to his career-high 60 and said he can push closer to 70, while another said that if he stays healthy and keeps the “Brö line” together, he could finish first on the team. A few commenters also noted that he didn’t look fully himself after the trade last season because of a lingering foot issue, but still competed hard.
There was also plenty of belief that the scoring race could be close between Pettersson and Rossi, especially if the line combinations fall a certain way. One reader said Pettersson and Rossi could both end up in the 70s, with Rossi taking it. Another said Pettersson would be the leader if the Canucks don’t make major roster changes and he stays healthy, adding that it “won’t even be close.”
Beyond those two, fans tossed out a few other possibilities. Brock Boeser was mentioned as a close second in scoring, with one prediction of 30 goals and 35 assists.
Braeden Cootes drew one bold call to shock the fanbase and lead the team with 42 points. Another reader suggested Filip Hronek could sneak into the conversation.
There was also a note that if Manny is willing to use Buium on the power play and give him more offensive-zone starts, he could emerge as a major surprise.
Some of the comments were more about what the season means than the raw numbers. One fan said Pettersson and Rossi are the kind of regular-season players who could hit 60 points if they stay healthy and get top-six and power-play usage, adding that it’s “a perfect roster for a team that should be tanking and selling.” Another said the hope is simply for Pettersson to show up ready to go and make it hard for the team to want to trade him.
The discussion even wandered into a few wild-card ideas. One reader jokingly imagined the Canucks trading next year’s first-round pick and Lekkerimäki for Steven Stamkos, then naming him captain and watching him finish with 23 goals and 57 points.
Another wanted the team to pursue Laine, hoping the fit could help both players. There was also a vote for Brooks Rogowski, and one commenter said point-per-game should matter more than total games played when judging who has the most to prove.
For now, though, the question remains open. Camp in Penticton is coming fast, and for a Canucks team full of moving parts, the players trying to define themselves may be the most interesting part of all.
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