The Vancouver Canucks are navigating a season filled with intriguing storylines as the calendar turns to January 2026. From potential trades to the unexpected performance of a former player, and the pace of their star forward, there's plenty to discuss surrounding the team.

One of the most talked-about topics is the future of forward Kiefer Sherwood. The pending unrestricted free agent is reportedly generating significant trade interest from other teams. According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Canucks have made a new contract offer to Sherwood, but there is still a "sizable gap" between what Sherwood is seeking and what the Canucks are willing to offer. This suggests that a trade is still a strong possibility as the March trade deadline approaches. Several destinations have been mentioned as potential landing spots for Sherwood. The Canucks may be looking to capitalize on Sherwood's career year, where he is on pace to set new highs in goals and points. Through 40 games, he is on pace for 34 goals and 42 points.

Adding a layer of irony to the Canucks' season is the performance of Oliver Ekman-Larsson (OEL). The Canucks bought out the veteran defenseman in 2023, and he is now playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Ekman-Larsson has 25 points in 40 games with the Maple Leafs which is the same amount as Elias Pettersson, who currently plays for Vancouver. The Canucks are still paying Ekman-Larsson nearly $4.8 million not to play for them. Ekman-Larsson has also earned a spot on Sweden's Olympic team.

Elias Pettersson's performance is also under scrutiny. While he has the same point total as OEL, there are still talks regarding Pettersson.

The Canucks find themselves in a transitional phase, potentially leaning towards a rebuild or a "hybrid retool". The trade of Quinn Hughes in December signaled a shift in direction, and further moves are expected as the Canucks aim to accumulate assets and build for the future.