The Vancouver Canucks entered the 2025-26 season with another round of changes, promising a renewed push toward success. They traded for veteran forward Evander Kane from the Edmonton Oilers, signed P.O Joseph to strengthen their blue line, and hired Adam Foote as head coach to replace Rick Tocchet. Following their playoff miss in the 2024-25 season, these moves were seen as part of a plan to add grit and leadership, while also providing young prospects with a clearer path to the NHL.
Yet, even with those upgrades and a Calder Cup-winning AHL affiliate brimming with talent, the Canucks have struggled to find consistency. A 7-8-0 start has left fans wondering whether the real issue lies not in the lineup or behind the bench, but higher up, in the team’s ownership structure and long-term vision. That’s where one Vancouver insider believes the franchise’s biggest problem truly begins.
Is Francesco Aquilini’s ‘Playoff Revenue First’ Mentality Keeping the Canucks Stuck?
During a recent episode of the Donnie & Dhali podcast, Vancouver insiders Don Taylor and Rick Dhaliwal offered one of the most candid assessments yet of the franchise’s direction. They didn’t just criticize the team’s recent loss to Chicago. Instead, they went straight to the top, arguing that billionaire owner Francesco Aquilini’s management style has trapped the Canucks in an endless cycle of mediocrity.
Taylor summed up the frustration many fans share, saying, “For the long-suffering fans of Vancouver, it’s even more frustrating than seeing nontraditional hockey markets like Florida or Carolina winning Stanley Cups. These teams went to the bottom and built themselves up again, while the Canucks are wallowing in a sea of mediocrity.”
Dhaliwal took that sentiment further, directly pointing to the ownership’s mindset as the core issue. “It’s because we have an owner who wants playoff revenue every year,” he said. “Get to the playoffs. I don’t care if you’re out in round one, but just get to the playoffs. I want that playoff revenue.”
According to Dhaliwal, that short-sighted approach has kept the team in a constant loop of half-measures: hiring and firing coaches, trading for short-term fixes, and rarely sticking to one vision for more than two years. The Canucks’ recent roster moves reflect this tension between short-term improvement and long-term planning. The acquisition of Kane adds scoring punch, and Foote’s promotion suggests a desire for continuity after working under Tocchet.
But when viewed through the lens of ownership’s history, these could also be seen as temporary solutions, moves designed to keep the team competitive enough to chase a playoff spot rather than build toward real championship contention.
What Does This Mean for the Canucks’ Fan Base?
Taylor also touched on how ownership has failed to understand its own fan base. “This is a smart hockey market,” he said. “People want a Stanley Cup here. They don’t care about eighth place.”
His words reflect the sentiment of a city that has waited more than a decade for a true contender. Since their 2011 Stanley Cup Final run, the Canucks have made the playoffs only five times, with their best showing coming during the 2020 playoffs.
Meanwhile, Francesco Aquilini, who has owned the team since 2004, remains a central figure in nearly every conversation about the Canucks’ direction. Under his leadership, the franchise has prioritized financial stability and playoff appearances, often at the cost of taking bold steps toward rebuilding.
In a market as passionate and hockey-savvy as Vancouver, fans don’t just want another playoff berth; they want a plan, a direction, and, ultimately, a Stanley Cup. For that to happen, the change might need to start not in the dressing room, but in the management’s approach.
