Thomas Drance

Senior Writer @TheAthleticNHL covering the Vancouver Canucks. Co-host #CanucksTalk on @Sportsnet650 catch us 12-2pm M-F. Author, hockey writer, former PR guy.

[Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance]

@Sell_the_TeamFA @S7Dsn Which is more or less what Nashville did (Martone).

[Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance]

Even in defeat + in a game in which I thought the Canes were clearly the better side, the raw precision that Eichel, Marner + Stone play with is a marvel.

Literally every intention they have on the ice, they just do. No bobbled pucks. Impossible to play through.

Great players.

[Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance]

@clahanna all-time Clips clip @JClipperton_CP

[Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance]

@GradySas 3 of these players are not like the others (bc they have an opportunity to be legit good, perhaps in a top-9 role).

[Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger]

The NHLPA has asked the NHL to move forward with an investigation into the allegations Mike Babcock invaded players privacy during his time in Columbus.

[Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance]

#Canucks mock draft 3.0: Options for Vancouver’s top picks coming into focus after NHL Draft Combine.

Opening up for all to read 🔓: https://t.co/IUrgVNVDZD

[Sportsnet 650 @Sportsnet650]

🗣️ It's all about the scouts. None of those three... will know [the players] that well.

👉 Jannik Hansen weighs in on the value of font office experience heading into this NHL Draft.

[Sportsnet @Sportsnet]

In his final rankings heading into the 2026 NHL Draft, Jason Bukala of the @ProHockeyGroup goes through his top 100 players. https://t.co/k1utnuYMG2

[Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance]

@seyerpa lol how do you figure? McCarron was an example of a player to target for a good strategy, not the lynchpin of it.

[Sportsnet 650 @Sportsnet650]

Coming up on Canucks Talk with @JamieDodd and @ThomasDrance

👉 Jannik Hansen
👉 @JesseGranger_
👉 Stanley Cup Final Game 4 tonight

LISTEN
https://t.co/aPcCsz2E7Y

[Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance]

Shared a locked link accidentally.

Unlocked version here: https://t.co/1GqOYC82Jx

[Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance]

#Canucks mock draft 3.0: Options for Vancouver’s top picks coming into focus after NHL Draft Combine.

Opening up for all to read 🔓: https://t.co/IUrgVNVDZD

[Max Bultman @m_bultman]

NEW: Will the Red Wings get aggressive to try and stay competitive in the wake of Dylan Larkin's trade request? Or take a step back and embrace a deeper re-tool? And what if Yzerman holds firm and lets this drag out?

All of that explored, here:

https://t.co/DFydc6hh9t

[Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance]

@mikeinthevalley @JFreshHockey Teams have protection, it’s called “paying the player more”.

[Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance]

@BeefJyrki @CanucksHouse I was comping them to the speed of other incoming GMs and how quickly they assembled their teams. Most of them added significantly within a month.

[Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance]

@DanM1fnj @CanucksHouse Yeah, I have no problem with a cut back budget at the start of the rebuild (tho it’s a bit tough to stomach with a ticket price increase), but save $ by shedding player salaries - not by nickle and diming front office personnel that can add +EV during a rebuild.

[Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance]

@PBatts68 @CanucksHouse You’d like to get both, but it’s crunch time now.

[Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance]

@Antoniokolstee @Sportsnet650 @JamieDodd @LandonFerraro I’m just trying to think my way through what to expect and read the tea leaves as honestly as I can.

[Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance]

@jasobek @TheAthleticNHL Lol, was just trying to take readers inside the process and my observations. You can read it that way, if you’d like.

[Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance]

On Caleb Malhotra, the "sorest loser in the family" and the circus that surrounded him during NHL Draft Combine week.

And 5 observations from combine fitness testing.

Opening up for all to read 🔓 via
@TheAthleticNHL:

https://t.co/GSoH2qC83C