Covering the Canucks for Daily Hive since 2019. Also co-host of the Locked On Canucks Podcast alongside Kyle Bhawan.

<p>It&#8217;s an eerily familiar situation for Vancouver Canucks fans.</p>
<p>After a massive in-season trade, the Canucks are now left without a captain for a second time in less than three years.</p>
<p>Former Canucks captain Bo Horvat was traded to the New York Islanders on Jan. 30, 2023, in exchange for a first-round pick, Aatu Räty, and Anthony Beauvillier.</p>
<p>Eight months later, Quinn Hughes was named the 15th captain in club history.</p>
<p>After Hughes was traded to the Minnesota Wild last week, the Canucks were left captainless once again.</p>
<p>So, how long will they go without a captain this time around?</p>
<p>Here are some options for the next captain of the Canucks.</p>
<h2>1. Elias Pettersson</h2>
<p>Remember when the debate over who the Canucks next captain would be was between Elias Pettersson and Hughes?</p>
<p>Heck, even Horvat <a href="https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/horvat-pettersson-vote-canucks-captain" target="_blank">endorsed Pettersson as the next captain of the club</a>, saying on All-Star weekend in 2023 that &#8220;he&#8217;d be my vote.&#8221;</p>
<p>Well, a lot has happened since then.</p>
<p>Pettersson&#8217;s declining play, coupled with the saga between him and J.T. Miller, has certainly created some doubt about whether he should captain the Canucks.</p>
<p>Still, he is the Canucks most talented player, and his care level has been evident this season through actions such as shot blocks.</p>
<h2>2. Brock Boeser</h2>
<p>After admitting he was &#8220;unlikely&#8221; to re-sign with the Canucks, Brock Boeser is now locked in with a seven-year contract, including a no-movement clause for the next four seasons.</p>
<p>That essentially makes him a Canuck for as long as he wants to stick around.</p>
<p>Boeser&#8217;s calm demeanour and the fact that he&#8217;s the longest-tenured Canucks skater make him a viable candidate for the captaincy.</p>
<h2>3. Conor Garland</h2>
<p>Much like Boeser, Conor Garland signed an extension with the Canucks that kicks him at the beginning of next season. That includes a no movement clause until the summer of 2029.</p>
<p>If the Canucks don&#8217;t plan on trading Garland before his no-move clause kicks in, then he could be in line for the captaincy.</p>
<h2>4. Tyler Myers</h2>
<p>Tyler Myers has seen it all throughout his time in the NHL.</p>
<p>Heck, you could argue he&#8217;s seen it all during his time in Vancouver.</p>
<p>In terms of players who are adept and affable when speaking to the media, there&#8217;s none better in the Canucks organization than Myers.</p>
<h2>5. Marcus Pettersson</h2>
<p>The Canucks didn&#8217;t just acquire Marcus Pettersson last season in order to improve the defence.</p>
<p>One of the reasons they acquired and extended Pettersson was due to his leadership abilities.</p>
<p>“In just a couple of games, Marcus has already shown us the type of leadership, poise and character that we want in a top-four defenceman,” Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin <a href="https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/canucks-agree-to-terms-with-marcus-pettersson-on-a-six-year-contract-extension" target="_blank">said in February</a> after they extended Pettersson. “He has a calming influence on the ice.&#8221;</p>
<h2>6. Kiefer Sherwood</h2>
<p>The obvious caveat with Kiefer Sherwood is that <a href="https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/nhl-teams-rumoured-interest-canucks-sherwood-what-they-could-offer" target="_blank">there&#8217;s a strong chance</a> the Canucks trade him before the deadline.</p>
<p>If they decide to keep him instead, is there a better player on the roster who embodies hard work and leadership?</p>
<p>Sherwood has won over Canucks fans with his compete level and tenacity on the ice. Those are reasons why he was voted as the team&#8217;s unsung hero by the fans last season.</p>
<h2>7. Filip Hronek</h2>
<p>Although he rarely speaks publicly, Canucks head coach Adam Foote has <a href="https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canucks-reveal-new-alternate-captain-hughes-trade" target="_blank">already lauded the leadership abilities of Filip Hronek</a> behind the scenes.</p>
<p>When Foote was asked about leaders on the Canucks days before Quinn Hughes was traded, Hronek was the first player he mentioned.</p>
<h2>8. Jake DeBrusk</h2>
<p>There&#8217;s no one on the Canucks who embodies the good vibes mentality more than Jake DeBrusk.</p>
<p>The 29-year-old is always honest with the media and willing to be self-critical.</p>
<p>He&#8217;s not the obvious choice, but DeBrusk is a viable candidate if the Canucks are looking for a leader who may improve the morale of the locker room.</p>
<h2>9. No captain</h2>
<p>This is the most likely option for the Canucks, at least until the end of the season.</p>
<p>And, if the Canucks want to wait until one of their younger players steps up, they could follow the path of other recent NHL teams.</p>
<p>The Arizona Coyotes/Utah Mammoth franchise went three seasons without naming a captain after Oliver Ekman-Larsson was dealt to the Canucks.</p>
<p>Perhaps the Canucks will wait until Tom Willander, Braeden Cootes, or another one of their top prospects is ready to assume the captaincy.</p>
<ul class="article-see-also"><strong>You might also like:</strong><li><a href='https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canucks-sign-max-sasson-contract-extension' target='_blank'>Vancouver Canucks sign Max Sasson to two-year contract extension</a></li><li><a href='https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/quinn-hughes-forgot-gear-after-canucks-trade' target='_blank'>Quinn Hughes forgot gear in brother&#039;s car before first game after Vancouver Canucks trade</a></li><li><a href='https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/quinn-hughes-explains-canucks-trade' target='_blank'>Quinn Hughes explains how his trade from Vancouver Canucks went down</a></li></ul>


Vancouver

The Vancouver Canucks are now without a captain following the Quinn Hughes trade. So, who will be the 16th captain in franchise history?