Chasing Redemption: The Path to the 2025-26 Playoffs for 2 NHL Teams
- karinnaleonard
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Vancouver Canucks
After a dominant 2023-2024 season, where the Canucks finished first in the Pacific Division with 109 points, Vancouver struggled mightily this past season. The team slid to fifth in the Pacific and missed the playoffs, six points out of the second wild card spot. Notably, they plummeted from fifth in goals against to 18th, and from sixth in goals for to 23rd during the 2024-2025 campaign.
As the team continued to skid, tensions boiled over off the ice between J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson. Their constant feuding and the unrelenting media scrutiny created a toxic atmosphere that became impossible to ignore as the season went on. Eventually, the situation reached a point of no return, and on January 31st, Miller was sent to the New York Rangers in a blockbuster trade. In return, the Canucks received centre Filip Chytil, defense prospect Victor Mancini, and a top-13 protected 2025 first-round draft pick. They then quickly flipped the pick to Pittsburgh and acquired forward Drew O'Connor and defenseman Marcus Pettersson. Vancouver immediately signed both former Penguins to long-term contract extensions, marking the start of a new era of Canucks hockey.
While this deal was a necessary reset for the team, it proved to be a nightmare for the Canucks play-by-play announcer John Shorthouse, who now faced the impossible task of calling games with three Petterssons in the Vancouver lineup. In the first game with center Elias Pettersson, defenseman Elias Pettersson, and Marcus Pettersson, Shorthouse turned to color commentator Dave Tomlinson for help. All he could offer was, “Godspeed, Shorty.”
Despite a grueling and disheartening 2024-2025 campaign, the Canucks aren't starting from scratch. With their core players intact and a new head coach, Adam Foote, behind the bench, they can get back on track. The most important components of their comeback will be internal improvement.
A quiet offseason left them with notable gaps up the middle that will have to be filled by some of their young forwards. While they wait for reinforcements to emerge, Elias Pettersson and Filip Chytil will be tasked with carrying the offensive load at center. Pettersson remains a dynamic player, and his ability to bounce back this season will be crucial to the Canucks. Through the preseason, he has looked more confident and has shown a renewed willingness to drive play and unleash his lethal shot. These early signs of his return to form make Vancouver's path back to contention feel like a realistic possibility. Acquired in the J.T. Miller trade, Filip Chytil represents one of the biggest swing factors for the team this year. If he can remain healthy, his speed and ability to carry the puck through the neutral zone to create controlled zone entries will significantly bolster Vancouver's offense. Their center depth suddenly looks far more stable if Pettersson can rediscover his elite game, with Chytil leading the charge right behind him.
On the back end, everything starts with Quinn Hughes. Though hounded by injuries, the captain remained one of the most elite players on the ice last season, keeping the Canucks competitive through tough stretches. Subtle changes to the defensive core have transformed Vancouver's backend dramatically. Trading players like Carson Soucy, Noah Juulsen, and Vincent Desharnais for Marcus Petterson, a healthy Filip Hronek, and the emergence of three young defenseman have created a faster and more efficient blue line. Their speed and puck-moving ability will allow them to transition more quickly and apply pressure on both ends of the ice. Even veterans like Derek Forbort are adapting to this style, which was exemplified when he scored a shorthanded goal by jumping up into the rush in a preseason game against the Flames.
Goaltending will also be a crucial part of their team identity and success. After finishing second in Vezina Trophy voting in 2023-24, Thatcher Demko managed just 23 games and 10 wins last season. If Demko can return to his top form and stay healthy, the Canucks will have arguably the best goalie tandem in the league with Kevin Lankinen providing stability as a reliable 1B option. With an even split between the two, the Canucks have a crucial anchor in the crease and a steady foundation that could backstop them right back into playoff contention.
After a floundering season filled with rumors and frustration, the Canucks are ready to move forward and turn the page. With a healthier lineup, a faster blue line, and key internal improvements, Vancouver is aiming for revenge and a return to the top of the Pacific Division.
Utah Mammoth
Much like the Canucks, the Mammoth finished the 2024-25 season just seven points out of the second wild card position and were officially eliminated from playoff contention on April 9th. Cracking the top three of the Central Division will be a tough task, but with their added reinforcements, it's well within Utah's reach to break into playoffs through one of the conference's wild card spots. The team will enter this season with renewed intensity as they continue developing their own identity. After relocating from Arizona, they spent all of last season as the Utah Hockey Club. Now, with a unique name and branding, the Mammoth are ready to emerge and carve out their own identity on the ice.
Alongside their new name, the team has unveiled a new state-of-the-art training facility. Beyond the basic necessities, NHL columnist Nicholas J. Cotsonika noted that the building boasts a recovery lounge with "massage chairs, an infrared bed and a sensory deprivation room. There is a hydrotherapy area, including a pool with reverse currents and an underwater treadmill...[and] the weight room alone is 8,000 square feet." The 82-game NHL schedule is grueling, and this cutting-edge facility will give the Mammoth a significant advantage by helping players maintain peak performance all season long. This is especially crucial this year, as the schedule is condensed to accommodate the Olympic break. Additionally, having such an incredible space serves as a huge draw for other players, which could potentially lead to high-quality acquisitions in the future. This summer, the Mammoth bolstered their roster by adding JJ Peterka, Brandon Tanev, Nate Schmidt, and Vitek Vanecek. All of these players contribute to the Mammoth's overall depth and will be key components as the team pushes for a playoff spot. Tanev brings valuable veteran experience, while Schmidt and Vancecek add a winning pedigree after capturing the Stanley Cup with the Panthers this past June. A young and dynamic winger, JJ Peterka will bring speed in transition to help round out Utah's offensive game.
While these new additions provide depth and skill, the core of the team remains anchored by captain Clayton Keller and young center Logan Cooley. Last season, Keller led the team with 90 points, while Cooley added 25 goals and 40 assists to bring him to 65 points. Their elite playmaking abilities will be crucial to Utah's offensive potential. Over the summer, both were part of the IIHF World Championship gold medal USA squad. This taste of victory will surely have them hungry for more. When asked about the new facility and the resources they've been provided with, Keller said, "We've talked about how we expect to win...They've given us everything we need to succeed and have no distractions. It's great to have those expectations. That's what we want."
While Keller and Cooley carry the offense, it will be crucial for the blue line to help translate their talent into tangible wins. A key piece of their defensive core will be John Marino. After being traded to Utah during the 2024 NHL draft, Marino got off to a slow start with the team and did not begin skating until late December due to surgery on a lower-back injury. He finally made his debut with the team on January 14th and went on to post 14 points in 35 games, averaging 21:10 of ice time per game. Additionally, he blocked 46 shots and proved to be a reliable defenseman for them to lean on. His offensive upside, combined with his ability to kill penalties and shut down opponents, makes his health a critical factor in Utah's success this season.
For the Mammoth, there's an extra incentive to perform well, as every win promises a fun new brainrot video from their social media team. Teams have often been haunted by these compilations, knowing that every loss against the Mammoth could be immortalized online on TikTok. Laughs aside, Utah has all the pieces in place to make a serious playoff push this coming season. With a dynamic core, key offseason additions, and a state-of-the-art training facility, the Mammoth are well-positioned for a highly competitive year.
As the NHL regular season begins this Tuesday, the Vancouver Canucks and Utah Mammoth both have a chance to rise above the noise and make a statement from the opening puck drop. Their journeys may differ, but they're fighting towards the same end goal, as they aim to prove they belong among the league’s contenders.
Edited by: Kelly Cassette
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