‘Can’t Work Through a Cheapskate Owner’ — Canucks Fans Outraged Over Fresh Reports of Ownership’s Cost-Cutting Plans
· Yahoo Sports
Vancouver Canucks fans have already endured one of the worst seasons in franchise history. Now, fresh reports about the team’s financial plans have sparked another wave of frustration.
According to reports, ownership, led by Francesco Aquilini, wants to significantly reduce the team’s player payroll ahead of the 2026-27 season.
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Vancouver Fans Fume Over Canucks’ Cost-Cutting
The Province’s Patrick Johnston reported that Canucks ownership wants to cut as much as $20 million from the team’s player payroll compared to where it finished last season.
“League sources have told Postmedia that Canucks ownership has said it would like to reduce player payroll by up to $20 million; bears noting that they are already down $12 million from the end of last season,” Johnston reported.
The news has understandably frustrated fans who just watched Vancouver finish 25-49-8, the worst record in the NHL.
For many supporters, the rumored cuts feel less like part of a rebuilding plan and more like ownership trying to reduce expenses after a disastrous season.
The reaction online was immediate.
PuckEmpire was particularly critical of Francesco Aquilini and the reported approach, saying, “Penny-pinching sports franchise owners are worse than anything else as a sports fan. You can get through a bad GM, a brutal rebuild, bad contracts. Can’t work through a cheapskate owner. Aquilini keeps letting down an entire province.”
NHL analyst Stephanie also expressed her frustration, simply calling the situation “genuinely embarrassing.” Golden Knights Watch questioned the report but still called the potential plan “outrageous if it’s true.”
Joe Mooney, meanwhile, sarcastically pointed out how the news could affect fan optimism heading into the season, writing, “Always makes the fan base optimistic when they get news like this… tanking before camp starts.”
Why the Canucks Are Looking to Cut Payroll
There are several possible reasons behind the reported cost-cutting plans.
Vancouver finished 32nd in the NHL last season with a minus-100 goal differential. The team also missed out on the valuable playoff revenue that comes with hosting postseason games, while declining ticket demand and TV ratings may have added to the financial pressure.
The Canucks could also be looking to stay close to the salary floor. The NHL’s salary floor is set at $76.9 million for the 2026-27 season, and cutting $20 million could leave Vancouver with a payroll in the $78 million to $80 million range.
That would put the team only slightly above the league minimum.
At the same time, new Canadian broadcast rights are expected to increase league-wide revenue, making the timing of the reported cuts even more frustrating for some fans.
The organization has also started moving toward a younger and cheaper roster.
The Canucks have also taken a cost-conscious approach behind the bench, hiring Manny Malhotra as head coach and Ryan Papaioannou to run their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford. The team is also expected to rely more on younger players on entry-level contracts to keep expenses down.
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That approach could help the Canucks save money and give their prospects more opportunities.
However, after finishing last in the NHL, fans are expecting the team to improve, not take another step backward.
If the reported $20 million payroll reduction becomes reality, ownership will face growing pressure to explain how the move fits into Vancouver’s long-term plan.