2 Veteran Canucks Players Who Could Make a Difference in 2024-25

The Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks were a surprising team heading into the 2023-24 season. They had a roster full of elite talent, but Vancouver hadn't been able to put it all together in the past. They burst onto the scene early in the year and maintained their spot near the top of the Western Conference, leading to a second-round playoff matchup with their rival, the Edmonton Oilers.

It ended in a Game 7 loss, but Canucks fans were inspired by the progress. Now it’s time for two veteran acquisitions that will change the game for Vancouver in 2024-25.

The Canucks' offseason got off to a rough start when they lost Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov to the Boston Bruins in free agency. They returned the favor signings of Jake DeBruce, Danton Heinen and Derek Forbert from the Bruins, but it was hard to argue which team got the better players in that de facto trade.

The Canucks may not be as good as they were last season, but they are hoping for some veteran additions and continued growth in Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes will be enough remain contenders.

Jake DeBrusk is the Canucks' biggest X-factor

Boston Bruins left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) watches the Florida Panthers play during the second period of Game 2 of the 2024 Stanley Cup second round playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena.
© Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

It's hard to call DeBrusk “smart.” He was the Canucks' biggest offseason acquisition and was hailed as Pettersson's game-changing partner. However, in addition to his playoff successesMost of the NHL world doesn't know how good a player DeBrusk can be.

DeBrusk's career with the Bruins was filled with inconsistent play. When DeBrusk was on the ice, he was one of the most electric players on the ice, night after night. The problem with DeBrusk was that he wasn't on the ice often enough to justify another contract in Boston.

The Canucks believe a consistent partner like Pettersson can get the most out of DeBrusk on a nightly basis. DeBrusk was at his best in a Bruins jersey when he played alongside David Krejci. Krejci was a calculating, playmaking center who wasn’t known for his speed but used DeBrusk’s elite skating ability to compensate for his skating lapses.

Pettersson is not a bad skater by any means, but once he gets into the offensive zone, he doesn’t play at high speed. He likes to slow the game down and use his elite passing skills to find open teammates like Krejci. Pettersson’s biggest problem in the past has been the lack of offensive talent around him to utilize those strengths. DeBrusk knows how to play around a player like that, which makes the Canucks believe he’s a perfect fit.

The Canucks' goal this offseason was to give Pettersson that linemate to see his true ceiling as an offensive talent. There are no more excuses for Pettersson, and it looks like DeBrusk could have one of his best offensive seasons in 2024-25.

Daniel Sprong is a wily player who changes the rules of the game

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It took Daniel Sprong a while to find his place in the NHL. He finally found it in 2021-22 when he joined the Seattle Kraken and scored six goals in his final 16 games. The Kraken saw enough to bring him back for the 2022-23 season, which should be his breakout year.

The veteran attacking winger scored 21 goals and added 25 assists in 66 games, helping the Kraken reach their first postseason. He was also a key player as the Kraken upset the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in the first round.

The Detroit Red Wings saw Sprong’s success in Seattle and signed him through the 2023-24 season. Sprong hasn’t had the same success as Seattle, but his potential is still fresh in everyone’s minds. It took the team a while to take a chance on Sprong this offseason, but many believed he would fit with the Canucks. The Canucks proved that by signing him to a one-year, $975,000 contract.

Sprong could fit the Canucks in a number of ways. He could be a valuable bottom-six player if he shows the same form he did in Detroit. However, if Sprong can crack the top six, his offensive numbers could explode like they did in 2022-23 in Seattle. The Canucks could set the stage for Sprong to get more opportunities after a trade Vasily Podkolzin in the Edmonton Oilers.

Sprong could become one of the most valuable players in the league if he becomes a game-changing player for the Canucks in 2024-25. The Canucks need some of these new veterans to come in after losing some valuable players in free agency, and it will be a group effort to get them past Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.

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