Canucks Schedule: Glimmers of competitive hope as Olympic break nears

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In one period of one game, the Vancouver Canucks’ future was on encouraging display Saturday at Rogers Arena.

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When Jonathan Lekkerimaki and Tom Willander scored in the second period of a 3-2 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, it was a reminder that retaining first-round NHL draft picks is prudent and trading them is a wound that cripples development and never heals.

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The Canucks have a pair of first and second-round selections in 2026 for the first time in franchise history. They will add more picks with expected trade departures of unrestricted free agents Evander Kane, Teddy Blueger and David Kampf, but that may not occur before the Olympic roster freeze from Wednesday at noon PT to Feb. 22.

To know where you hope to go, you have to learn from mistakes because a skeleton is still rattling in the draft closet.

On Monday, a haunting Canucks past becomes present-day reality when hotshot winger Dylan Guenther, 22, of the Utah Mammoth takes aim at the Canucks in Salt Lake City.

The Edmonton native — who leads the transplanted and rejuvenated club with 24 goals, six game winners, and five power play strikes — is on pace for a career-high 30 goals. The former Western League sniper was a key piece in a multi-asset transaction between Vancouver and Arizona in July of 2021.

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The Canucks acquired defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and winger Conor Garland and surrendered the ninth-overall selection in the 2021 draft as part of a package to shed the salaries of aging and unproductive Loui Eriksson, Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel. Larsson was bought out in June of 2023 at US$19 million over eight years. The dead-cap payout has four more years remaining.

Fast forward and the prospect of the Canucks actually building for the future, instead of past practices of free-agency follies and being consumed by chasing elusive playoff berths, is more comforting than concerning.

You don’t plan for nine injuries at one early point in a season gone south and they contributed to missing the mark in key categories to sit in last place with just 18 wins in 55 games. The Canucks have given up the most goals per outing (3.58), scored the third fewest (2.56), have the worst penalty kill (70.7 per cent) and are the 20th-rated power play (18.7).

What they do have is hope.

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When Lekkerimaki, 21, got into position in the high slot Saturday to bury a cross-ice feed with a no-hesitation wrister that found the stick side, it showcased his NHL-calibre release. However, a slight frame needs to be augmented by better conditioning and strength to win board battles. He had but three third-period shifts and sat out the last half of the frame during a 2-2 deadlock.

That’s understandable. You can’t teach that shot, but you can teach details. One lost battle could have equalled a Leafs winner in regulation, and that’s why he sat. But why Lekkerimaki wasn’t selected for the shootout is a head-scratcher.

“It’s more of the defensive side of it,” Canucks head coach Adam Foote said of the 15th overall pick in 2022. “He’s getting there for sure. The more time he’s with us, the more he’ll know certain things and the trust will be there. It’s just slight movements defensively. It’s just being young. It’s not mistakes. He’s a smart guy. He’ll get it pretty quick.”

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Same for Willander.

When the fleet-footed rookie defenceman joined the rush Saturday, took a neat cross-ice saucer feed from Kane, and snapped a sharp wrister stick side, it was a peek at the potential of the 11th overall selection in 2023. He has improved defending and zone exits are quicker and sharper, as are his passes.

However, mistakes will happen in transitioning to the NHL and Willander, 20, was hard on himself after a 5-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday — even though he scored the opening goal. But that loss stung.

“He’ll grow from it,” said Foote. “When our veteran defence has a night like that, things like this are going to happen. A couple of guys were just off and we were watching and a little off.”

Here’s what awaits this shortened week. I went 1-2-0 with predictions last week:

Canucks at Mammoth

When and where: Monday, 6:30 p.m., The Delta Center
TV: Sportsnet. Radio: Sportsnet Pacific

What to watch: The Mammoth sent a warning with a 6-2-2 finish last season for 89 points, seven shy of a wild-card spot. Utah played at pace and precision and wound up with five 20-goal scorers and Clayton Keller hit the 30-goal plateau for the third-consecutive season. It electrified the city. The Mammoth were also 10th on the power play. This season, they’re in thick of the wild-card race.

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Who to watch: Winger JJ Peterka

Sometimes, trades can be a win-win. Utah was looking for more offence to augment an impressive young core and moved promising winger Josh Doan, 24, and defenceman Michael Kesserling, 26, to the Buffalo Sabres in an off-season swap for Peterka, 24. He has responded with 19 goals and is on pace for a career-high 29. Doan has 16 goals. “It felt like home right away,” said Peterka.

Prediction: The Canucks seek revenge from 4-1 home-ice loss to Utah on Dec. 5. But Mammoth speed is the difference in 4-2 win.

Canucks at Golden Knights

When and where: Wednesday, 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena
TV: Sportsnet. Radio: Sportsnet Pacific

What to watch: The Golden Knights aren’t so golden. They were holding serve atop the Pacific Division in a wild scramble for playoff positioning, but have lost seven of eight, including a 3-2 loss at home Saturday to the surging Seattle Kraken, who have won four straight, and a 4-3 loss in Anaheim on Sunday. “Our first period, again, we’re not engaged enough,” lamented Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy after Saturday’s defeat. “No reason not to start on time.”

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Who to watch: Centre Jack Eichel

He has 22 points (7-15) and a plus-6 rating in 23 career games against the Canucks. Acceleration through the neutral zone often puts defenders on their heels. And when he enters the offensive zone, a deft touch with precision passes and a quick release have him leading club scoring with 63 points (19-44) in 47 games. He also has a team high five game winners and 174 shots.

Prediction: The Canucks take advantage of the Golden Knights’ slump and do just enough to hang on for 4-3 victory.

bkuzma@postmedia.com

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