Rossi, Öhgren, and Buium: The next big forces for the Vancouver Canucks

The scoreboard says it all, but it’s no secret that the Vancouver Canucks are struggling in ways that go beyond the ice.

It has been a frustrating year for Canucks fans, and trust me, I get it! Every game I watch leaves me dreading the final buzzer as it usually signals another painful defeat.

When the Canucks try to take one step forward, they somehow get pushed back even farther down the line, indicating that a rebuild is necessary to get the team on track.

And that starts now.

​Former captain, Quinn Hughes, was traded to the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 12. Yes, for Canucks fans, this was a tough pill to swallow, but we got some great pieces in return that make the future look promising.

From the trade, the Canucks got forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Öhgren, along with defenceman Zeev Buium and a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft.

Rossi was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the 2020 NHL entry draft, coming off an impressive year for the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He secured 120 points in 56 games in the 2019-20 season, leading the OHL and Canadian Hockey League (CHL) in points.

He was named OHL Player of the Year in 2020.

In his time with the Wild and the Canucks, Rossi earned himself 116 points in 209 career games. At only 24 years old, the Canucks are getting a young centreman who can find his way to the front of the net and score.  

The Canucks won this trade with just Rossi, improving their centre depth immensely, but the additions of Öhgren and Buium are bonuses to a team that wants to get younger and rebuild for the future.

The Minnesota Wild drafted Öhgren in the first round of the 2022 NHL entry draft. He has played 53 games in the past few seasons with the Wild and the Canucks, earning himself a total of 11 points.

While we have only seen the 21-year-old left winger play seven games for the Canucks, I think he has the potential to be an effective forward for us. He could be paired on a line with one of our star centremen, Elias Pettersson.

Having Öhgren on the same line as Pettersson could generate something special and get Petey scoring more points.

With the acquisition of two skilled forwards, we can’t forget about the young 20-year-old defenceman who has an impressive resume attached to his name.

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The Minnesota Wild drafted Buium in the first round of the 2024 NHL entry draft. Buium played in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) and was named NCHC Player of the Year in 2025.

Buium scored 14 points in 31 games for the Wild during the 2025-26 season before being traded to the Canucks. In his Canucks debut on Dec. 14 against the New Jersey Devils, he earned two points. An impressive start for the young defenceman.

Buium is full of potential, and I think he could be a good match for the Canucks. He has the kind of skill the Canucks need on the back end.

All three players have made their NHL debuts with the Canucks, and I know they’ve played only a few games, but I can see the potential for the Canucks to become an offensive force in the future.

The Canucks need to score to win in the NHL, and with the addition of these three talented players, I think we may have a shot at winning the Stanley Cup. All we need is one cup, and with that, I only have one request for the Canucks: please win one before I get too old, thank you.