Wistful as it may be to imagine the Vancouver Canucks becoming the next Anaheim Ducks, the process highlights the importance of time and patience. The Ducks have taken seven years to rebuild into a playoff team, one that is entertaining to watch with its fast, attacking style, but still not yet a serious contender for a championship.
On Tuesday, the Ducks overcame a late surge from Vancouver to win 5-3 with an empty-net goal from Troy Terry, surrendering a couple of leads along the way. While the Canucks have struggled recently, losing five of seven games during a long homestand, their performance against Anaheim was far more competitive than their showings against St. Louis and Tampa Bay, both of which limited Vancouver to just 10 shots through two periods. Tuesday’s 30-shot effort matched the team’s second-highest total in the past 18 games.
Jake DeBrusk praised the Ducks’ speed and structure despite noting defensive lapses. He highlighted their mixture of young talent and experienced players, emphasizing that their success stems from learning to tighten up while maintaining an aggressive offensive style.
Rebuilding lessons: veterans, patience, and growth
When asked what the Canucks could take from Anaheim’s rebuild, coach Adam Foote avoided simple answers, such as enduring multiple poor seasons to secure top draft picks. Instead, he stressed the importance of surrounding young players with veteran guidance while providing space for development. He also acknowledged that the Ducks are still refining their approach, learning when not to rely solely on run-and-gun tactics.
The Ducks’ turnaround was dramatic. After a nine-game losing streak left them at 21-21-3 in early January, coach Joel Quenneville implemented a strategy emphasizing better defensive play. Since then, the Ducks have gone 19-6-1, allowing three or fewer goals in 18 of those games and excelling in overtime and shootouts with an 8-0-1 record. Their mid-season adjustment shows that patient, deliberate rebuilding can gradually yield results, even if the team’s style still prioritizes speed and scoring over defensive perfection.
Foote and the Canucks understand that replicating this success will take time. With Vancouver poised to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season and nine times in 11 years, any progress will likely be incremental and dependent on a combination of talent, health, veteran support, and a bit of luck.
Focusing on the present amid challenges
For now, Canucks players are concentrating on improving their effort each night. Veterans like DeBrusk recognize that high draft picks alone do not guarantee success and that rebuilding is a long, complex process. Against the Ducks, Brock Boeser, Drew O’Connor, and DeBrusk scored for Vancouver, while Elias Pettersson’s two power-play assists brought him to 500 points in 533 games.
Despite losing, Vancouver showed a willingness to compete, matching Anaheim’s speed in shots and sticking with the game through pushback. The Ducks, heavier and more physical, still managed to outscore their defensive lapses, while Mikael Granlund, John Carlson, and Leo Carlsson combined for multiple points.
Foote praised his team’s effort, noting that maintaining focus and consistency will be essential moving forward. The Canucks’ path, much like Anaheim’s, will require patience, learning, and gradual improvements as they continue their long-term rebuild.