Apr 20, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (95) celebrates his goal in front of Ottawa Senators forward Dylan Cozens (24) during the first period of game one of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/842bf83d-a3d0-424d-8745-cf06ee1e5b35.jpeg] Apr 20, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (95) celebrates his goal in front of Ottawa Senators forward Dylan Cozens (24) during the first period of game one of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images DANIEL SPRONG Sprong was a member of the Vancouver Canucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks] for a grand total of nine regular-season games in the 2024–25 season. After some defensive gaps were spotted in his play, he was quickly traded to the Seattle Kraken [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/seattle-kraken/] in exchange for future considerations. He was dealt to the New Jersey Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/] at the Trade Deadline in exchange for a seventh-round pick in 2026. Sprong played one playoff game with the Devils and did not register a point. JUSTIN DOWLING Dowling only played 22 games for Vancouver, but stayed within the Canucks organization from 2021 to 2023. A free-agent signing by New Jersey in 2023, Dowling has been with the Devils for the past two seasons. He played in all five of the Devils’ playoff games this round, but failed to register a point. Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/]: Canucks Prospects Patterson & Romani's 2025 OHL Seasons Come To A Close [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/canucks-prospects-patterson-romanis-2025-ohl-seasons-come-to-a-close] The Abbotsford Canucks’ Standouts After The First Two Games Of The Second Round [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/the-abbotsford-canucks-standouts-after-the-first-two-games-of-the-second-round] Former Canucks Who Are Pending Free Agents That Vancouver Could Pursue During The 2025 Off-Season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/latest-news/former-canucks-who-are-pending-free-agents-that-vancouver-could-pursue-during-the-2025-off-season] JACOB MARKSTRÖM Markström is no stranger to carrying a team to success (as Canucks fans are well aware of), and in this season’s series against the Carolina Hurricanes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/], that was evident. After almost seven years with the Canucks, Markström joined the Calgary Flames [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames/] in 2020 and was eventually traded to the Devils. Despite only having one win on his record during this postseason, he posted a 2.78 GAA and a .911 SV%. JALEN CHATFIELD Chatfield was the first former Canuck to advance to the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Chatfield and the Hurricanes took down the Devils in five games, with the former Canucks defender potting one goal during this effort. ANTHONY BEAUVILLIER Beauvillier has moved around quite a bit since his 55-game stint with the Canucks. He ended up with the Chicago Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/] in November 2023, the Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/] in March 2024, the Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/] in July 2024, and finally the Washington Capitals [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals/] in March 2025. In a five-game takedown of the Montréal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/], Beauvillier had a goal and four assists. NIC DOWD It’s been seven seasons since Dowd played his 40 games with the Canucks, and since then he has stayed a consistent member of the Capitals. He played in all five of Washington’s first-round games this postseason, tallying one assist in Game 4. NATE SCHMIDT In his time with Vancouver, Schmidt may be best known for his attempts to get Brandon Sutter a McFlurry after the forward scored his first NHL hat trick. Schmidt joined the Winnipeg Jets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/winnipeg-jets/] for three seasons before moving onto the Florida Panthers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/] this year. He opened Florida’s five-game first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/tampa-bay-lightning] with three goals in two games. ADAM GAUDETTE Despite an impressive season, Gaudette and the Ottawa Senators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/] fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/] in six games. Gaudette, who was drafted by the Canucks in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Draft and departed from the team in 2021, scored a goal and two assists in his team’s playoff run. MATTHEW HIGHMORE Highmore played 64 games with the Canucks from 2021 to 2022, putting up nine goals and 17 assists. He only slotted into one of Ottawa’s games in the first round and did not record a point. CHRIS TANEV Once known as “Tequila” by his Canucks teammates, Tanev returned to his hometown team, the Maple Leafs, during the 2024 off-season. This postseason marks the fifth time in his career that he has made the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs — two of these instances were with the Canucks. In Toronto’s six-game first round series, Tanev registered one assist in Game 4. OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON Ekman-Larsson was the second piece in a trade that sent Conor Garland to the Canucks back in 2021. The former Arizona Coyotes Captain has since been bought out by Vancouver, signed with the Panthers and won a Stanley Cup in 2024, and is now competing for his second championship as a member of the Maple Leafs. He had two goals in Toronto’s first-round series. TANNER PEARSON Pearson’s time with the Canucks was characterized by his friendship with former Captain Bo Horvat and a brief reunion with L.A. Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/] linemate Tyler Toffoli. In his 221 games with the Canucks, Pearson scored 55 goals and 59 assists. He had 27 points in 78 games played with the Vegas Golden Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights/] this season and had one assist in three games played during their first-round, six-game series against the Minnesota Wild [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/]. ANDREI KUZMENKO The Canucks pulled out all the stops to get Kuzmenko to sign with them during the 2022 off-season, and after his debut NHL season, it was clear why they did so. Kuzmenko had 39 goals and 35 assists in his first season with the Canucks. However, things dropped off the season after, resulting in the forward being moved to the Flames. After a couple more trades, Kuzmenko ended up in Los Angeles. He had five goals and 12 assists in 22 regular season games with the Kings, and averaged a point-per game with them in the postseason before being eliminated in six matches. VASILY PODKOLZIN Podkolzin, the 10th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, was traded to the Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/] in August of 2024. The change of scenery has seemed to have gone well for him, as Podkolzin has taken things up a level since the playoffs began. He has been on the ice in the final minutes when the Oilers have a lead, and he has noticeably increased the physicality of his presence while on the forecheck. He currently has four assists in all six of the Oilers’ games. CASEY DESMITH While DeSmith did not start any of the Dallas Stars [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars/]’ first-round games, he did play in relief after Jake Oettinger was pulled during Game 4. He only let one goal in on 14 shots against, putting up a .929 SV%. LUKE SCHENN Schenn has been a reliable defender for the Winnipeg Jets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/winnipeg-jets/] since joining the team via trade. He played in all seven of the team’s first-round games, including nearly 30 minutes in their Game 7 double overtime win. His lone assist came during their 5–3 Game 1 win. Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwr-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. The Hockey News [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/fae5d6b6-99e8-4bc5-9fea-f005c88b977c.jpeg] The Hockey News
