Rutherford needs extra Canadian gamers on Canucks

With the Vancouver Canucks sitting on the backside of the NHL standings, a rebuild is inevitable.

What that precisely appears to be like like stays to be seen, however president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford has some concepts.

Talking to Darren Millard and John Shannon on the 100% Hockey Podcast Thursday, Rutherford admitted he’d wish to see extra Canadians on Vancouver’s roster sooner or later.

“We might like to have extra Canadian gamers,” Rutherford stated. “I’ll make that very clear. But when there’s a participant, from no matter nation on the earth that may come contribute to the Vancouver Canucks, we’re going after that participant. At this cut-off date, after I have a look at our staff, I’d wish to see us have extra Canadian gamers on it.”

Jake DeBrusk, Evander Kane, Tyler Myers and Pierre-Olivier Joseph are the one Canadian-born gamers on the Canucks’ energetic roster this season.

And with DeBrusk, Kane and Myers all doable commerce targets for contending groups, that quantity might dwindle even additional by the March 6 deadline.

Rutherford additionally spoke to the staff’s plans forward of the commerce deadline, stating {that a} good chunk of the staff is out there for the correct value and that younger property are the goal for the staff transferring ahead.

“We’ll be as energetic as doable if, in actual fact, one thing is smart for our return. We’re not out seeking to simply give away gamers,” Rutherford stated. “I do not know what number of youthful gamers — mid-20s to youthful — are gonna be out there that we are able to purchase, however we’re gonna have a look at all prospects. Sticking to that plan of staying youthful, getting a gaggle collectively that may come collectively over the following couple years as a staff.”

Rutherford added that — whereas they will not half with guys blindly — there aren’t too many untouchables on the Canucks roster

“There are some, I will not get into them,” Rutherford defined. “I do not wanna counsel that each one our gamers can be found, as a result of they don’t seem to be. However I might say the checklist is comparatively brief.”

With a league-worst report of 18-33-7, the Canucks are eight factors behind the following closest staff, which supplies them the within observe on the high lottery odds for the 2026 NHL Draft.