Who should be the next captain of the Vancouver Canucks?<\/p>\n
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Published Mar 21, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Zeev Buium is only 20 but has a wisdom and poise beyond his years.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n It\u2019s really hard not to see him one day wearing a C on his sweater.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n But it\u2019s best for him for that to not happen. Not yet anyway.<\/p>\n As the Vancouver Canucks transition into this new group of players, the post-Quinn Hughes era if you will, how their leadership evolved is going to be a thing to watch.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve heard so much about how Filip Hronek as emerged as a vocal internal leader. Brock Boeser\u2019s charisma has long been obvious and it\u2019s clear he\u2019s got a bigger role than ever to play in raising his teammates\u2019 self-confidence.<\/p>\n Boeser is much more adept at filling a public speaking role than Hronek, but it\u2019s Hronek who is the team\u2019s best all-around player. Either of them, on the surface, looks like a good candidate to be the next Canuck to have a C on his sweater; but is either really the choice in the long run?<\/p>\n Both are 29 this year. On this team that\u2019s old: they\u2019re now the third youngest roster in the NHL.<\/p>\n This team\u2019s future will be driven by the likes of Buium.<\/p>\n One day he\u2019ll be the captain, but the Canucks shouldn\u2019t rush into this. Just ask Trevor Linden.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI would hope they would not do that,\u201d he told me Saturday about the idea of making Buium captain before next season. \u201cThat\u2019s a lot of pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n And that\u2019s even before considering how much growing he still he has to do as a defenceman.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a very difficult position to break into and play at. I would give him a year or two before you that. But that\u2019s great that he\u2019s a good kid. That\u2019s a consideration,\u201d he went on. \u201cI think the pressure of just establishing himself as an every day bona fide defenceman is enough pressure. I don\u2019t think you want to add the C, especially next year.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the things that helped Quinn Hughes take on the role, even if he was a quieter personality, was he so clearly the team\u2019s best player. If the Canucks were in trouble, he\u2019d rescue them. Buium isn\u2019t that kind of player, at least not yet. Let him get there first.<\/p>\n In the long run, though, I\u2019ve seen enough from him that tells me he would be a strong captain. He\u2019s thoughtful and self-aware. He\u2019s obviously got a massive passion for the game. As he told Canucks Army this week, he sees how important it is that his teammates have a strong connection with each other. And he\u2019s ready and willing to speak publicly, whether that\u2019s with the media or the general public.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Good vibes<\/p>\n We\u2019ve often been critical about the Canucks as an organization, so a moment of credit here: a few of us were hosted at a Warriors game and it was truly a rocking good time. I took my two girls and they left buzzing about the experience.<\/p>\n The crowd is boisterous, the game is fun; you want to talk about connection? The fans and players clearly have a connection. It\u2019s a much more grassroots experience. You feel part of a community there.<\/p>\n Lots of good lessons to be drawn there, no doubt.<\/p>\n The Goldeneyes are a similar story. I keep hearing stories from friends who go and also leave happy.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a real East Van vibe to it,\u201d one told me. Just a bunch of people of a broad swath of life experiences all having a good time.<\/p>\n Again, there\u2019s connection between fans and players. There\u2019s a coherence to the game\u2019s presentation that is leaving a mark on fans for the long term.<\/p>\n Both these teams are well priced and have the fan experience front of mind.<\/p>\n And both clearly leave fans feeling they\u2019re getting good value.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Caps initiatives<\/p>\n Still no movement on the Caps\u2019 ownership or stadium front and I\u2019m going to write a column about that sooner rather than later. As long as those don\u2019t change, the long-term viability of the team will be in question.<\/p>\n And yet the Caps keep making moves that suggest they\u2019re here for a few seasons at least yet. There\u2019s been a trickle of sponsorship deals signed which run for a season or two beyond this one. None are massive. Each is a few hundred thousand dollars.<\/p>\n The Caps\u2019 ability to generate commercial revenue remains restrained.<\/p>\n But they keep pressing on as if they\u2019re going nowhere. Thursday\u2019s announcement of a series of mini-pitches to be built around the province after the World Cup had the Caps front and centre again. They\u2019re talking about World Cup legacy and the Caps want to be part of that story.<\/p>\n That does matter.<\/p>\n![\"zeev](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2266120736_302062791-1.jpg\")
Chandler Stephenson of the Seattle Kraken and Zeev Buium of the Vancouver Canucks March 14, 2026 in Vancouver. Photo by Derek Cain \/Getty ImagesArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.8.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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