Brock Boeser did not hide his frustration after the Vancouver Canucks suffered their ninth consecutive loss. Vancouver fell 5-2 to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, leaving the NHL veteran winger questioning the team’s structure, communication, and commitment to its playing style.
“It’s the same stuff game after game,” Boeser told reporters. “I don’t know where the disconnect is, if guys in here aren’t listening to what the coaches are preaching on our style of play, or some of our structure’s not working, or what it is, but it’s embarrassing.”
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The defeat dropped Vancouver to 2-9-1, extending a difficult start to the season. Lucas Raymond scored twice and added an assist for Detroit, while Vancouver struggled defensively from the opening minutes.
The Red Wings scored three times in the first nine minutes, putting the Canucks under immediate pressure. Kevin Lankinen finished with 26 saves, but Vancouver could not recover from the early deficit.
Brock Boeser questions Canucks’ team structure
Boeser also criticized the team’s inability to operate as a connected unit for an entire game. He believes Vancouver has shown better hockey in the past but has failed to reproduce that standard consistently.
“We are a way better hockey team than we’re playing,” Boeser said. “To consistently show up to the rink and be disconnected out there” is embarrassing, he added.
The winger said the Canucks sometimes manage only one period of cohesive, five-man hockey. That inconsistency suggests the problem extends beyond individual mistakes.
Vancouver’s defensive struggles require more than a short-term scoring boost. The coaching staff must establish clearer defensive responsibilities and improve communication across all four lines.
Boeser also pointed to the team’s lack of offensive pressure, saying Vancouver was not generating enough shots. Without sustained possession, the Canucks leave their defense under constant pressure.
“So something’s not working, and I don’t know if guys don’t listen or, like I said, structure, something in the structure we need to fix or what it is, but we definitely have a lot better in this room,” Boeser said.
"I don't know where the disconnect is. I don't know if guys just aren't listening, if our structure isn't working, or what it is. It's embarrassing."
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 23, 2026
Brock Boeser spoke to the media after the Canucks ninth regulation loss of the season. pic.twitter.com/Gm4JKEdwDM
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Jonathan Lekkerimaki recorded a goal and an assist, while Elias Pettersson scored on the power play. However, those contributions were insufficient to prevent another defeat.
Vancouver now faces former captain Quinn Hughes and the Minnesota Wild on Sunday. The Canucks need a more connected performance, or their losing streak could deepen further.
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