The dog days of summer are upon us and Vancouver Canucks news is dwindling down, for now. Hockey writers are desperate for stuff to write about during the summer (like me)
But big news did drop on Wednesday morning. No, not a trade or free agent signing, but the schedule. The Canucks and other NHL teams released their schedule for the 2025-26 season. Vancouver revealed their schedule creatively. The reveal video featured Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk, EA Sports and Vancouver-based rapper BBNO$.
According to Izzy Cheung of The Hockey News, the Canucks have 12 sets of back-to-back games. They have eight from October to December and just four from January to April. According to Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650, there are two different eight-game homestands from January to April.
Let’s take a look at some of the notable games on the schedule. Start counting down to October and marking your calendars Canucks fans.
Home opener
Just like last season, the Canucks open their season at home against the Calgary Flames. They begin their season on October 9, the third day of the NHL season. Hopefully, this time, Vancouver doesn’t blow a 4-1 lead and lose 6-5 in overtime like last year.
Evander Kane returns to Edmonton
In June, the Canucks acquired Evander Kane from the Edmonton Oilers in a surprise deal. Many Vancouver fans were not happy with the acquisition, but Kane has a chance to prove himself with his hometown team.
Kane returns to Edmonton as the Canucks play their first road game of the season on October 11. Can the Canucks stop Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and can Kane haunt his former team? Canucks vs Oilers games are usually fun, especially when it comes to social media.
Vancouver plays Edmonton three more times that season. The Oilers visit Rogers Arena on October 26 and again on January 17. The Canucks close out their season with a trip to Edmonton on April 16.
Thanksgiving hockey at Rogers Arena
Monday, October 13, is Thanksgiving in Canada and Canucks fans can eat turkey and watch their favourite team.
The St. Louis Blues come to town that day to face the Canucks. It is an early start time at 4:30 pm Pacific.
The game will also be broadcast on Amazon Prime for the first edition of Prime Monday Night Hockey. So, enjoy stuffing your face with turkey and other food and cheering on the Canucks. This game will also mark the return of former Canuck Pius Suter, who signed a two-year deal with St.Louis a couple of weeks ago.
JT Miller returns
Speaking of former Canucks, a former star will visit Rogers Arena with the New York Rangers on October 28.
JT Miller was traded to the Rangers after weeks of speculation on January 31. Given his complicated legacy in Vancouver and the way he left, it will be interesting to see if he gets cheered or booed.
Filip Chytil was part of the trade that sent Miller back to New York, so he will face his former team for the first time. Chytil couldn’t play against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden last Spring due to a season-ending concussion.
Connor Bedard comes to town
Chicago Blackhawks centre Connor Bedard grew up a Canucks fan and was born and raised in North Vancouver.
The young phenom gets a lot of media and fan attention everywhere and it will be no different against his hometown team. In four games against the Canucks in his career so far, Bedard has just two assists according to StatsMuse.
The game on November 5 will be the second of two meetings between the Canucks and Blackhawks. They face off in Chicago on October 17 and March 6. The November 5 game will be Bedard’s only visit to Vancouver in 2025-26.
Rick Tocchet returns to Vancouver before the new year
Former Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was hired by the Philadelphia Flyers a few weeks after leaving Vancouver.
The Canucks face the Flyers in Philadelphia on December 22 and the rematch at Rogers Arena is set on December 30. Given the way Tocchet left Vancouver, it will be interesting to see what reception he gets. Current Canucks head coach Adam Foote will face his former master. Who will win, the former Padawan or the Master?
The annual Leafs invasion
It is always a spectacle when the Toronto Maple Leafs come to town. Auston Matthews and the blue and white visit Vancouver on January 31.
Once again, the game will start at 4:00 pm instead of the usual 7:00 pm. Leafs fans will come in large numbers and Canucks fans will try to drown them out.
Vancouver will try to keep their good record at home against Toronto. Since 2006, the Canucks have only lost twice to the Maple Leafs at home. That was in 2016 and 2019.
Last game before the Olympic break
For the first time since the 2014 Sochi Olympics, NHL players will compete for the gold medal on the biggest stage.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo from February 5 to 22. As a result, the NHL will pause from February 5 to 25.
The Canucks play the final game before the Olympics against Mitch Marner, Mark Stone and the Vegas Golden Knights on The Strip on February 4. They will play their first game after the Olympics on February 25 at home against the Winnipeg Jets.
So far, two Canucks players have been confirmed to represent their countries at the Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Captain Quinn Hughes will represent Team USA and centre Teddy Blueger will represent Latvia.
Of course, more Vancouver players could be heading to Italy. Notable names that could go are Sweden’s Elias Pettersson, Czechia’s Filip Hronek, Finland’s Kevin Lankinen and USA’s Thatcher Demko and Brock Boeser. Form and staying healthy will determine if they go to the Olympics or not.
The two-time defending champions visit Vancouver
The Florida Panthers have looked unstoppable over the last two seasons. It is no wonder that they are the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.
Sam Bennett, Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and the Panthers visit Vancouver on St. Patrick’s Day. Canucks fans will hope the luck of the Irish will be on their side in that game, or else they will be drowning in Guinness after another loss.
The Canucks will visit Sunrise on November 17. That is the second of a back-to-back as they face the Tampa Bay Lightning the night before.
Fan Appreciation Night
The last home game of the season for the Canucks takes place on April 14 against the Los Angeles Kings.
As always, it is fan appreciation night and the team awards will be handed out. Now, will the fans be appreciated for cheering the Canucks on as they look forward to the playoffs or be heading to the golf courses early yet again after another disappointing season?
Let us know which Canucks games you are looking forward to!
