At some point this season, the conversation around the Vancouver Canucks has shifted from who they can add to who they should move. That’s normal when things go wrong like they did for the Canucks. But not every veteran should automatically be included in the trade rumors for that reason alone. And Tyler Myers is a great example of why.
Even in the two recent losses, like the ones against the New Jersey Devils and the Pittsburgh Penguins, you could see something that mattered: the Canucks didn’t give up. The start wasn’t great; a shaky penalty kill hurt them early, but there was real adversity late in the game. Down 3-0, they made it 3-2, trading chances and essentially forcing the Devils to close out the game.
The same thing happened to the Penguins on Sunday. They fell behind 3-0, then came back to within one before losing 3-2. While they don’t count in the win column, these types of games are important if you’re not a playoff team. Tight games create habits. Blowouts kill them.
Tyler Myers is an experienced leader who wants to win
That’s where Myers comes into the picture. He is an experienced leader. And while some may roll their eyes at “veteran leadership,” for Myers it is not a buzzword. It is a daily presence. Myers doesn’t just talk. He shows up, plays heavy minutes and understands how to survive these types of plays without losing the room. He has experienced every phase of the competition: high expectations, rebuilding, pressure on the markets and long seasons that do not go as planned. That experience is not theoretical, but lived.
Look at the blue line. You have young or developing pieces like Filip Hronek, Zeev Buium and Tom Willander. They are all at different stages, but they all benefit from the stability around them. It is extremely important to have someone next to them who knows how to prepare, how to deal with momentum swings and how to stay steady when things go in the wrong direction. Myers does that naturally. Coaches trust him. Teammates respect him. He doesn’t need the label of ‘leader’ – he just is one.
Myers is loved in the ‘Room’ and he has found a home in Vancouver
There is also the human side. Myers is well-liked in the room. He watches younger players. He sets a tone without making it about himself. That’s important when a season becomes a drag and morale is fragile.
So even if the Canucks move veterans, they don’t have to strip everything down to the last detail. Even management has said that: you can’t send everyone out the door and expect teenagers to carry the culture with them.
Now, as Myers want to chasing a Stanley Cup late in his career, that’s a different conversation. But probably yes wants to end his career at home in Vancouver. He has earned the right to have input there. But unless that’s the case, there’s no point in moving it just for the sake of moving it. The returns are unlikely to match what he delivers internally, especially during a season where commitment and professionalism are tested every night.
The Canucks aren’t headed to the postseason, but their future needs Myers
The Canucks may not be headed to the playoffs, but how they finish matters to the fans, to the venue and to the future. Keeping players like Tyler Myers around ensures that the team not only gets through the season, but actually builds something along the way.
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