Vancouver Canucks' season hinges on on-ice performance: Demko's health, center depth, and cohesion take center stage as the noise stays down. Boeser is settled; Hughes' extension is off the table until next summer, and the trade market remains thin with cap pressures looming from double retention. Kaprizov's contract chatter adds league-wide context while Vancouver must prove it can compete on the ice to quiet outside chatter.

With limited trade options and a tough cap landscape, Vancouver's success hinges on Demko's health, timely development from the middle, and steady scoring from their top forwards to deliver real improvement on the ice.