Author Archives: Quinn Taylor

The Canucks Are No Longer The Biggest Dumpster Fire in The NHL

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This April The Athletic revealed a poll completed by 22 anonymous NHL agents on the “What Is The Worst Run Franchise In The NHL”. Out of 22 agents, seven voted Canucks, four voted for the Rangers, while eight other teams also received votes.

With the Jim Rutherford era officially in the rearview mirror and management finally embracing a full commitment rebuild, the off-ice circus at Rogers Arena has gone quiet. The drama and distractions that once gave Vancouver the reputation as the biggest dumpster fire has slowly gone, just in time to see the smoke rising over Detroit.

It wasn’t long ago that the Wings held the longest active playoff streak that spanned from 1991-2016. This season, the Wings are expected to miss the playoffs for a league leading eleventh straight season. And while in recent years the team’s poor on-ice play has been the main headache for fans, a toxic summer of off-ice turmoil has fans actively encouraging each other to not purchase tickets, in an attempt to boycott majority owner Chris Ilitch.

When Steve Yzerman took over as general manager seven seasons ago, Hockeytown  bought into the patience required for the so-called “YzerPlan.” However after failing to construct a playoff caliber team, the fanbase weren’t the only ones becoming impatient but captain Dylan Larkin as well. In June, the Michigan native stunned the hockey world by requesting a trade out of his hometown team. Just weeks later, Yzerman abruptly stepped down as GM. Owner Chris Ilitch hired an executive search firm to replace him, yet it’s early October, and Detroit is still operating without a permanent general manager, leaning instead on an interim GM. To add to the mess, the absence of no GM has left RFA blue-liner Simon Edvinsson without a contract. Unable to play, Simon is training at his home town in Sweden, and has made it known to the team that he prefers to be traded. As the dumpster fire continues to grow, Red Wings fans are retaliating directly against Chris Ilitch with a ruthless ticket boycott. The result? Little Caesars Arena, which is home to some of the most passionate fan bases in the NHL, sits at a league worst 90% capacity through its first three home games. It’s gotten so bad that fans struggled to hold up the team’s flag during anthems on before their second home game.

 

When an anonymous agent spoke about the Canucks in April to The Athletic they said,. “It just seems there’s a lot of soap opera stuff going on around there. I just think management needs to do a better job of keeping things in-house.” But as a new season dawns, the noise around the Canucks has hushed under a committed rebuild. Meanwhile, with a captain demanding an exit, an empty GM chair, a star defenceman training in Europe, and fans boycotting home games, Detroit is living out that exact same quote line for line. Congratulations Canucks fans, Hockeytown officially holds the dumpster fire crown.



Is There An Issue With American NHL Players In Canada

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Nowadays it’s not rare for a player to request out of an organization. But when three of the top American stars across different Canadian franchises request a trade all within less than a year, the pattern can no longer be ignored. Is there truly an issue with American players wanting out of Canada?

To determine whether Canada truly has an “American superstar problem,” you have to look at each situation in its own right.

In the last year three different Canadian franchises all dealt with the same issue, and it looks like each team’s issue will all come to the same conclusion. Quinn Hughes in Vancouver, Brady Tkachuk in Ottawa, and Connor Hellebuyck in Winnipeg have all requested trades out of their Canadian organization this year. It left each team scrambling, having to reevaluate their future on the fly, while other Canadian teams with American stars were left wondering if they’re next.

Bringing up Hughes’ name in Vancouver opens up old wounds for loyal Canucks fans. And although being the first of the three to request out and having one of the messiest player-team breakups in the recent years, his case is the most defensible in my opinion. Hughes had spent eight seasons with the Canucks. During that time the team was only able to make the playoffs once in 2024 (Not counting 2020 bubble year). Immediately after making the playoffs for the first time in his career the Canucks plummeted in the standings and had a terrible outlook for their future. In October of 2025 Hughes told the team he wanted out. 

The reason why I weigh Hughes’ leaving of Vancouver less than Hellebuyck and Tkachuk is because there’s been cases of American players, on American franchises, disgruntled with the team’s long lasting poor play. Most recently Dylan Larkin requested out of Detroit after the team failed to make the playoffs for the tenth straight season.  

Where the Tkachuk and Hellebuyck requests concern me more, is the fact that both Winnipeg and Ottawa have had positive seasons in recent years.

In Tkachuk’s case, the Senators had made the playoffs in back to back seasons. And although lost in the first round to Carolina, many said that the Sens gave the Canes the hardest series in their cup run. So why did Tkachuk want out? If you ask Senators majority owner Michael Andlauer, he’ll say “blood being thicker than water”, in reference to Brady’s older brother Matthew who had also requested a trade out of Calgary in 2022, and is now teammates with Brady on the Florida Panthers. 

Hellebuyck’s stands out most to me. Despite having a down year last year the Jets have made the playoffs six out of the last eight seasons, and only two years ago won the Presidents Trophy. The Jets haven’t had the most success in the playoffs, only winning four series in their last eight playoff appearances. What many Jets fans will hold against Hellebuyck is the fact that he has been awful come playoff time and has been a direct reason for them losing early. In a series against Colorado in 2023 Hellebuyck was pulled twice. How can you jump ship when you’re the issue? 

At the end of the day each player’s situation is unique to the teams that they belong to. No one can tell a player where they should play and how they should feel. But if more American players decide to follow Quinn, Brady, and Connor the NHL will have a serious problem on their hands.



Is Elias Pettersson Actually Back?

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It’s expected when a player signs a massive contract that they live up to the expectations that come with it. In the 30 months since Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson signed his 8 year $11.6 million AAV contract, the most polite way to label the contract would be to call it a mistake. Since signing, Elias Pettersson has looked like a shadow of the elite center who once cracked the 100-point mark. But in the first four games of this season Pettersson has delivered more than just points, leaving Canuck fans saying “Is Petey back?”

To appreciate the weight of his early-season resurgence, one must look at how far his standard had fallen. Following his lucrative eight-year extension, Pettersson entered a mysterious fall off that tested even the most loyal of Canucks fans. Across the previous two seasons, his play mirrored more a weak legged Bambi slipping on ice than it did a four-time NHL All Star.

Last season felt like he hit a low, managing just 15 goals and 51 points in 74 games, paired with a grim minus-30 rating. He was tentative with the puck, passing up prime shooting lanes, and frequently falling to the ice during battles. Speculation swirled over whether nagging injuries or mental fatigue had permanently altered the once fan favourite.

We’re only four games into the new season so anything can still happen. But, Pettersson is showing signs that he is still the player he once was. He’s skating faster, shooting more often, and hitting at a rate we’ve never seen. He opened the first three games of the season with two goals and three assists as well as a league leading 16 hits. Although most fans don’t expect him to keep throwing his body so frequently, Canucks fans are hoping his offense numbers continue.

His most impressive play came late in the third game of the season against Calgary. Pettersson laid a crushing hit at centre ice on Flames defenceman Zayne Parekh, that led to a Canucks goal. The broadcast showed Pettersson on the bench with his helmet off. His face was weather-beaten, with a bruise above his eye and blood dripping from his hairy chin. For the first time in years, Pettersson had an undeniable aura.  

https://www.twitter.com/GinoHard_/status/2106612115658391572

 

Four games do not make an entire 84 game season, but momentum is powerful and for Canucks fans can hopefully help maintain the production Pettersson has brought to the start of the season. If Pettersson has truly rediscovered the offensive threat he once was, the Canucks aren’t just getting back a top line center they are freeing themselves of the outside noise and distraction that has followed Pettersson since signing in March of 2024.



One Of The Canucks Newest Signings is Already Matching Records

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When Luke Schenn made his season debut on September 29th, he joined Nolan Baumgartner as the only players in franchise history to serve three separate stints with the Vancouver Canucks. But why does this partnership continue to be such a natural fit?

The Canucks signed Schenn to a one-year, $2.25 million contract in July. To many, bringing back the 36 year old blue liner for a third time in Vancouver might seem like a nostalgia play to generate warm headlines. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. While Schenn may not be the player he once was, he brings over 1,000 games of NHL experience and has been outspoken on his love for British Columbia, living in Kelowna during offseasons. For a Canucks organization working to establish a new culture, having Schenn mentor the core’s young talent is an invaluable asset.

Selected fifth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Schenn immediately felt the heavy expectations put on him by Leaf fans. The problem was, the expectations put on Schenn were unfair, and unrealistic to the type of player he was. Schenn’s a defensive defenseman, and while he may not be able to put up high point totals, his large stature and defensive abilities is what made him a highly touted prospect. After tallying 75 points in 310 games in Toronto, he was traded to Philadelphia and labeled a “bust”.

Schenn spent the next eight seasons bouncing across four organizations until hitting rock bottom in 2018. After playing over 500 NHL games, he was placed on waivers by the Anaheim Ducks and assigned to the AHL. At 29, he questioned whether his career was over.

“You’re thinking this is the end. You just cleared waivers and all 30 teams pass up on you. I remember coaches asked me, ‘Are you even going to go to the minors? Are you going to retire?’

The Canucks took their first chance on him late in the 2018–19 season, acquiring him via trade. Schenn was given quality minutes and revitalized his game, earning a contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning that summer. Over the next two seasons in Tampa, he won back-to-back Stanley Cups, joining his brother Brayden as a champion and etching his name into the Cup.

Schenn returned to Vancouver in 2021 on a two-year deal, further solidifying his bond with the fanbase before being moved again in 2023. After playing for four teams in the last three seasons, he’s now back for round three with the Canucks.

As the Canucks go through with their rebuild, having players who are able to mentor the young players holds large value. From a high drafted prospect, to an AHL demotion, to a two-time Stanley Cup champion, Schenn has lived every role the game has to offer and can speak to any experience that a player is going through.



Did The Canucks Find The Next Kiefer Sherwood?

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When free agency opened on July 1st, the Vancouver Canucks signed 26-year-old forward Paul Cotter to a one-year, $2.15 million contract. At the time, the signing of a fourth-line grinder whose highest point total in a season is 25, didn’t turn heads amongst fans. However, we’re just four games into the season and Cotter leads the NHL in goals. How did he get here?

Born and raised in Canton, Michigan, Cotter went through the USHL and OHL before being drafted 115th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018. During his tenure in Vegas, he developed into a versatile, high energy winger and was part of the 2023 Golden Knights team that lifted the Stanley Cup. Due to being on a team as good as Vegas he was often overlooked and struggled to make the starting lineup. 

After three seasons in Vegas, a trade sent him to the New Jersey Devils in 2024. In his first season with the Devils, Cotter proved that he truly belongs in the NHL, logging 192 hits in 79 games while adding 16 goals and bottom-six depth. The following season Cotter’s play unfortunately mirrored his team’s. His goal and point totals would decrease by seven from the season prior and the Devils would miss the playoffs. Despite the poor season, Vancouver believed that Cotter was more of the player from two seasons ago and not the last. 

For a Canucks team looking to establish a new culture both on and off the ice, Cotter’s physical, relentless play, as well as positive personality fit seamlessly into the bottom six. He can play either wing or center, power play, kills penalties and clear space for skill players.

“Paul is a versatile forward with a good combination of size and speed. Adding his edge and competitive drive helps build the identity we want throughout our lineup.” — Ryan Johnson, Canucks General Manager

Cotter immediately made his presence felt for the Canucks, delivering a two-goal performance including the overtime winner in his regular-season debut. And since has scored two more goals, putting him tied for first for goals scored. 

 

 

Now that the eyes of Canucks fans lie more heavily on Cotter, the discussion around trading him will grow. Much like Kiefer Sherwood last season, The Canucks have one of the most exciting bottom six players on an expiring contract. It only took until January for the Canucks to trade Sherwood to the Sharks for two 2nd round picks. If Cotter is able to keep producing it’s more than fair to say he will net a larger return come the trade deadline in March.

As the Canucks continue to rebuild, it’s important that the players entering into the locker room leave it a better place. Cotter has clearly been a positive presence to the team on and off the ice and is being rewarded on the stat sheet night after night. For a player who has had an unconventional road to the NHL, he could find himself being one of the more sought after players come the trade deadline.



Who Is Jamie Oleksiak?

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On July 1st, the Canucks signed 33 year old defenceman, Jamie Oleksiak to a two-year, $10 million deal.You may think that with a contract like that, that the Canucks were bringing in a player that can have high end production from the back end.. However, it wasn’t his point totals that caught Vancouver’s attention, it was the size, physical presence, and character qualities he brings to the team’s culture.

Oleksiak is the middle child of five. Growing up in Toronto, sports were quickly introduced to the family. His father played football and his mother was a competitive swimmer. Jamie says that at a young age he was influenced by his older brothers to play hockey, where he quickly grew dreams of playing in the NHL. Meanwhile, his younger sister, Penny, became a star swimmer and grew up to become Canada’s most decorated Olympian of all time.

Despite their shared athletic success, Jamie says the way they interact has never changed as siblings.

“She’s still my little sister, right? Even now, whenever I see her, I don’t really see her as the big Olympian swimmer. I think we do a good job of putting our jobs aside and just being siblings.”

 

Jamie’s own dream came true in 2011 when the Dallas Stars selected him 14th overall in the NHL Entry Draft. After a decade in the Stars organization, he was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 Expansion Draft. Standing at an imposing 6’7” and 257 lbs, he was given the nickname “The Big Rig” was once weighed in as the heaviest player in the NHL, earning a reputation as one of the league’s top defensive defencemen.

One of the more valuable skills Jamie brings is his experience both on and off the ice. He’s played nearly 800 NHL games and with his physical presence, it helps give the Canucks young players much needed protection. 

When the Canucks announced the signing, General Manager Ryan Johnson spoke highly of what Oleksiak brings to the room:

“He competes very hard and has grown into a great leader in the dressing room. Adding his size and veteran presence to our backend will help us in many positive ways.”

The Canucks have navigated plenty of ups and downs in recent years, but adding a steady, imposing character like Jamie Oleksiak could be a key piece of the puzzle that they’re trying to rebuild.



Why The Marchenko for Knies Trade Is a Win-Win.

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On September 28th at 10:51 a.m. PST, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported via X that the Toronto Maple Leafs were in deep discussions to acquire Columbus Blue Jackets star forward Kirill Marchenko.

https://x.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/2104630090860728831

What followed was an anxious wait from both fanbases to see what Toronto’s GM John Chayka would give up for such a talent. Hours later, the full details broke. Alongside Marchenko, Columbus shipped goaltender Elvis Merzlikins and veteran forward Miles Wood to Toronto. In return the Leafs sent 23 year-old Matthew Knies as the key piece. Along with a 2027 2nd-round pick, forward Steven Lorentz, and defenceman Emil Andrae. Immediately following the trade, Marchenko signed a six-year, $75 million extension with Toronto.

Online discourse quickly turned into a debate over who won the deal. Leaf fans argued Marchenko is a significant upgrade over Knies. So much so that paying Marchenko 4.75 million dollars more than Knies makes annually is justifiable. Blue Jackets fans countered that Knies’ production isn’t far behind the 26-year-old Marchenko, and that one day Knies will grow to be a better player if he isn’t already.

What’s wrong about the debate is that both fan bases are correct. It’s a rare win-win trade. It just takes context.

When Marchenko arrived at training camp in early September he answered a question about if he wanted to continue playing hockey with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He responded “I want to play hockey. That’s all I can say right now.” If it hadn’t already been made clear, Marchenko desperately wanted out of Columbus. That left Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell in a tough spot having to trade his best forward with minimal leverage. 

Meanwhile, Knies had been circulating in trade rumors, not due to poor play, but because his high end performance made him Toronto’s best chip to shake up a frustrated roster.

With it being less than 24 hours since the trade, there is not yet a winner, but both sides got what they needed. Toronto adds a top line winger with 141 points over his last two seasons to help rejuvenate Auston Matthews, filling the void left by Mitch Marner. On the other side, Columbus had their backs against the wall and acquired one of the rarest player types in the modern NHL, a young, productive power forward locked into long-term low aav contract.

The Penthouse: One of the most historic BC nightclubs

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Opened in 1947 by the Italian immigrants, Filippone brothers. The Penthouse became a sanctuary for some of the greatest musicians to ever live. Seriously, a lot of clubs claiming fame are hosting musicians that the average person wouldn’t know. But not the Penthouse. The Penthouse brought in names like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sammy Davis Jr. What’s wild to think about now is why they were there. Back then, Vancouver had these unofficial “Jim Crow” style rules where Black performers could play the big fancy hotels downtown, but they weren’t allowed to stay there or hang out after the show. The Penthouse didn’t care about any of that. It was an open door during a time when the rest of the city was closed off.

I’ve actually been inside the Penthouse. Not for clubbing activities, but rather to watch a live podcast. Every month The Penthouse hosts a gathering. Where people eat, talk, and listen to “The Chat Room”  an in-house podcast hosted by Joe Leary, Danny Fillipone and Aaron Chapman. Where they engage with interesting guests, and engage in conversation. In my time there, I was looking around imagining how it could have been in the 50s. The neon lights, carpeted floors, scream old school, but honestly success as well as the building has stood the test of time. 

 

Of course, history isn’t all just jazz and spotlights. The place has a “notorious” reputation for a reason. It’s been raided by the police, tied to the old school Italian mob, and has survived every attempt by the city to shut it down. But the fact that the Filippone family still runs it today is a miracle in a city that usually loves to tear down anything with a bit of grit. I think it’s definitely safe to say that the Penthouse is a community and the people who frequent it show what it means to people.

To me, The Penthouse is a reminder that Vancouver’s music identity wasn’t built in a boardroom, it was built in these dark, smoke filled rooms that ignored the rules. It’s very easy to understand just how important the Penthouse is to the history of Vancouver’s music scene. When you realize that Louis Armstrong’s voice once echoed off those same walls, you start to see the city a little differently. It’s a piece of our history that’s still standing.



From talking the talk, to walking walk

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If your parents were around the Burnaby scene back in the day, they’ve probably told you stories about D.O.A. But nowadays, you’re more likely to spot the band’s frontman in a suit heading into City Hall than on a stage at the Rickshaw. Joe Keithley or Joey Shithead, depending on who you ask isn’t just a local city councillor, he’s a legit punk pioneer who basically coined the term “Hardcore” and put BC punk on the global map.

 I feel like for every artist that I don’t like, one of their most common character traits would be that they feel inauthentic. Like they’re trying to be someone they’re not to sell or to be edgy. But, when I look at clips and research of Joey is the complete opposite. He’s spent over 45 years living by one simple rule: Talk-Action=0. It’s a slogan that was plastered on D.O.A. albums and t-shirts decades ago, and it’s a reminder that if you aren’t actually doing something to change the world, your words don’t mean much. 

While researching Joey for this article I realized pretty quickly that Joey wasn’t some polished kid with a record deal. Rather,  he was a guy from the suburbs who was fed up with the status quo. In the late 70s and 80s, D.O.A. took that raw, unmanufactured BC sound and toured it across the globe. They were playing shows in places that most bands wouldn’t touch, all while staying fiercely independent on their own label, Sudden Death Records.

Now, after reading that about him, just how shocked would you be for me to tell you that Joey Shithead ended up transitioning from the stage to the council chamber. Seriously.

A lot of people think punk is just about making noise and breaking things, but Joey proved it’s actually about community and just spreading a message. He went from screaming about social justice in dive bars to actually trying to fix housing and environmental issues in his hometown. I love it, because compared to today you see a lot of famous people make statements and yet never join the office to actually make a change.

Even in 2026, Joey hasn’t slowed down. Whether he’s strapping on a guitar for a benefit show or debating policy in a boardroom, he’s still the same guy who refused to be manufactured by the industry.



FIFA Fan Festival Lineup

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If you thought the FIFA World Cup 2026 was just about soccer, think again. Vancouver is preparing to host one of the largest live music programs in the city’s history. This week, officials revealed the “Park Stage” lineup for the FIFA Fan Festival at Hastings Park, and for local music fans, it’s a goldmine. Over the course of 28 days this June and July, the city will get the chance to see over 60 free performances hosted by the city of Vancouver, turning the PNE fairgrounds into a massive, open air concert hub.

For music listeners like me, who love Canadian indie and alternative music, this is the festival to go to for the summer. With big names like Broken Social Scene, Metric, The Sheepdogs, and Dear Rouge, who are all set to headline free dates on the Park Stage. It’ll be a rare opportunity for fans to see stadium level acts without the stadium level ticket prices. For the younger adult demographic like myself, this is effectively a monthlong, free version of a major music festival like Westward or Pemberton, right in our own backyard.

The coolest part for me of the festival is the debut of the brand new Freedom Mobile Arch (the new PNE Amphitheatre). This $184 million mass timber masterpiece is set to reach full completion just weeks from now. While the Park Stage offers free shows, the Amphitheatre will host signature ticketed events featuring heavy hitters like Mötley Crüe, Arkells, and BC’s own Cameron Whitcomb. It’ll be your first ever time in Vancouver, where the city has had a permanent, world class outdoor stage of this scale, and its debut during the World Cup is a massive moment for the city’s infrastructure.

Beyond the headliners, the festival is leaning heavily into BC’s cultural diversity. Expect to see global sounds ranging from the Latin Grammy winning Alex Cuba to local electronic favourites like Felix Cartal. For students at BCIT and young creators in Burnaby, this festival represents a massive shift in how Vancouver handles large scale entertainment. The city is finally acknowledging just how much us people enjoy music shows, and this summer’s FIFA Fan Festival is proof.