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Vancouver Canucks veteran calls out team for lacklustre effort

Trevor Beggs
Trevor Beggs
|
Feb 5 2026, 7:19 pm
Vancouver Canucks veteran calls out team for lacklustre effort
Bob Frid/Imagn Images

It’s okay for the Vancouver Canucks to lose games.

Most fans understand that’s a good thing right now.

But failing to show up is unacceptable when you play in the NHL.

During the Canucks most recent loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, prior to the Olympic break, they once again allowed goals in bunches.

Vegas scored three times within 2:30 in the second period. The Canucks did make it a one-goal game heading into the third, but their lack of effort was apparent in the third period.

The Golden Knights scored twice early in the third to open up a three-goal lead, and the Canucks showed zero pushback. They were outshot 15-4 in the final frame, en route to a 5-2 loss.

Another mediocre showing had one Canucks veteran call out his team after Vancouver’s 17th loss (including overtime and shootouts) in their last 19 games.

We can’t get deflated and just stop playing when things aren’t going our way,” Teddy Blueger told Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre.

“I think weā€™ve got to find some character in our group. Just find…probably some more respect for each other, some appreciation to be in this league.”

Strong words from one of the only Canucks players who’s put in the effort of late.

The Latvian centre leads all Canucks with four goals and seven points in eight games since returning to the lineup on Jan. 21.

During that span, Elias Pettersson and Conor Garland haven’t scored once, while Jake DeBrusk and Evander Kane have just one goal each.

With Pettersson, Kane, and DeBrusk on the ice, the Canucks have been caved in at even-strength since Blueger’s return.

Here’s how badly the Canucks have been out-attempted with those three players on the ice during the last eight games.

  • DeBrusk: 69 shot attempts for, 112 shot attempts against (38.1 per cent)
  • Kane: 81 shot attempts for, 141 shot attempts against (36.4 per cent)
  • Pettersson: 70 shot attempts for, 131 shot attempts against (34.8 per cent)

All three players rank last on the Canucks in terms of guys who have played every game since Jan. 21.

The Canucks now have almost three weeks off until they hit the ice again. They’ll host the Winnipeg Jets in their first game back on Feb. 25.

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