RSS Canucks Team Notes

[Vancouver Canucks]

Canucks injury news: Boeser and Höglander out until after NHL’s Olympic break

As the Vancouver Canucks embark on a final mini road trip before the Olympic break, they will be doing without two of their top-nine forwards.

Ahead of their Monday night game against the Utah Mammoth, Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote confirmed the club would be without wingers Brock Boeser and Nils Höglander for the road trip, and thus will be out until after the Olympic break.

You can watch Foote’s answer at the 1:55 minute mark below:

"There's an energy around the guys. It's been the last 4 to 6 days… we're more connected and just got to continue it tonight."

Head Coach Adam Foote speaks on tonight's matchup in Utah, the energy around the players with their mom's around and more.#Canucks | @theprovince pic.twitter.com/o8D6jJhLOh

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) February 2, 2026

Boeser last appeared for the Canucks on January 25, in a matinee match against the Pittsburgh Penguins. As the Canucks were trying to mount a three-goal, third period comeback, Boeser was at the netfront chaos, waiting to bury the loose puck if it became available. Penguins forward Bryan Rust skated through the slot area and made direct contact with Boeser’s head on a hit, and left the Canuck forward down on the ice as time expired.

Rust was suspended for three games for his actions. Monday night’s game against the Ottawa Senators will be the final of Rust’s three-game suspension. He will be eligible to return for the Penguins’ two final games – against the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres – before the Olympic break, while Boeser remains out for his team’s final two games.

Canucks fans haven’t seen Höglander since January 27, against the San Jose Sharks. He managed to finish the contest, but finished with the lowest ice time of any Canuck forward. His last shift came with under seven minutes today, where he appeared to be ailing after engaging with a Sharks defenceman on the forecheck.

Höglander missed the Canucks’ first 29 games of the season after suffering a lower-body injury that required surgery in the second preseason game. Since he returned, the 25-year-old Swede has just two assists in 18 games while averaging just 11:32 minutes of ice time.

The Canucks will attempt to finish strong before the break against the Mammoth and Vegas Golden Knights, now without the likes of Brock Boeser or Nils Höglander.

Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancou...boeser-hoglander-out-after-nhls-olympic-break

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

The Stanchies: Canucks fall 6-2 to Mammoth as they crawl toward NHL Olympic break finish line

After suffering a 6-2 loss at the hands of the Utah Mammoth, it’s safe to say both Vancouver Canucks players and fans alike are looking at that Olympic break finish line with a desperate longing in their eyes. It was a night that Annie Wilkes would have felt was a bit much, in which nothing much went right for Vancouver.

Not that there can be many letdowns in a season where you’re drowning in last place, it’s a bit like complaining about the menu options on the Titanic while it’s sinking. Sure, you’re going to drown, but was mashed potatoes too much to ask for? But it still felt like a bit of a stumble for a team that had put together two solid defensive games in a row.

We walk away from this loss with no new talking points. The veterans remain untraded, and with a trade freeze staring them down on February 4th, it doesn’t leave much time on that front. The Canucks lost, which was ultimately the right result, and we’ve already talked about that angle to death. Coach hurt young player development? Why waste time say lot word when few word do trick.

My biggest takeaway from this night of hockey in the NHL is just watching the games around the league and seeing so many exciting highlights, from Tage Thompson spinning his way to a spectacular goal, to old friend Quinn Hughes putting up three assists even if Brendan Gallagher did walk him like a poodle, to watching young BC born superstars Macklin Celebrini and Conor Bedard facing off in a showdown of both the future and the now.

And I didn’t even talk about the absolute filth that Mikko Rantanen unleashed on the Jets (RIP Luke Schenn’s soul).

The point is, I yearn for the day when the Canucks are exciting again because right now, they are downright unwatchable. Which, yes, comes with the process of rebuilding, I get that. But you just see all the talent around the league, and you wonder if maybe a 2-3 year rebuild is aiming a little too high for Vancouver. As much as a silver lining the play of Liam Öhgren has been for Vancouver, it pales in comparison to the rosters half the teams in the league are trotting out.

And no offence to Evander Kane, but I yearn for the day when you could watch someone fight Liam O’Brien, and it felt like it mattered, like it was for a greater purpose. Tell me Evander Kane isn’t oozing with the “hired mercenary who always turns on people but you have no other choice but to work with them, and oops, yep, they betrayed you” trope energy.

It’s just a team without absolutely zero aura right now, which makes some of these nights feel extra long, you know?

There wasn’t too much from Vancouver in this game, but a job’s a job, damn it, so let’s dive into it so we can file this game away under the “Hey remember that season Vancouver ended up picking third because they dropped two spots in the lottery?” folder.

Best careful what you wish for

This is my tanking #Canucks

— JohnnyCanuckDownUnder (@NuckDownUnder) February 3, 2026

I was initially disappointed that Nikita Tolopilo didn’t get the start in this game, as he earned it after his showing against Toronto, but after seeing the result, I am somewhat relieved he didn’t have to go suffer. Kevin Lankinen is a veteran; he knows not to get too angry when Tom Willander has two choices to make and surprises you with a third by covering nobody on an odd man rush:

To be fair to Tom Willander, maybe he saw Evander Kane covering Jack McBain in the middle and was worried Kane would let up on coverage (he did), but by doing so, he let Nick Schmaltz get his first of three goals on the night. Honestly, McBain almost tapped the puck in anyway, so in a lot of ways Willander’s instincts were right.

That being said, it was a bad defensive breakdown pretty early into the game, which kind of set the tone for the night. It wasn’t as bad as some nights have been; there was definitely an element of bad bounces working against the Canucks, but it also felt very much like a “you earn your good luck” night from Utah as well.

I just miss the days when Rick Tocchet had the Mammoth’s old city struggling to score a goal a game, you know? Everything was so much simpler back then.

Best shimmering moment amongst the gloom

Liam Öhgren with the speed and the snipe off a feathery pass by Conor Garland, who finally ends his 13-game point drought. #Canucks

— Daniel Wagner (@passittobulis) February 3, 2026

Like crying while eating a frozen burrito eaten in the middle of the night as you decompress from the day, sometimes it’s the little things in life that get you through life. And on this night, Liam Öhgren was once again a bright spot on a season in which there have been oh so few of them.

As an added bonus, Conor Garland broke his 13-game pointless streak, sending the puck up so Liam could skate into it with speed, ending with a clinical shot for the finish:

A tip of the hat to Teddy Blueger for pulling the puck back to open up the passing lane to Garland in the first place, as the chemistry between Ted and Conor continues to spark here and there, reminding us of a time long gone. We talked about it during the homestand, but I really enjoy this trio as a line. I don’t think much of anything will put up wins on this season, but just in terms of watching a competent line doing competent things, these three will probably be near the top of the list for Vancouver.

And because life is about to get much, much harder for Kevin Lankinen in this article, here he is making a great side-to-side stop on Clayton Keller:

And in case you want to see the exact same shot, except a few minutes later, here is Clayton Keller once again sliding into open space and cranking another one timer like a young Chev Chelios:

Should Keller be able to continuously get open like this? Of course not. But as noted Canadian poet laureate Avril once said, sometimes life’s like this, uh-huh, uh-hugh, that’s the way it is.

Ohh, la-la-la-la.

Best chill out, whatcha yelling for?

2 goals on 4 shots where is Tolopilo to save us ? #canucks

— -Rutherford's- Traded Quinn Hughes (@Jhammy51) February 3, 2026

Hey man, lay back, it’s all been done before.

Goals, that is.

Sean Durzi would quickly take care of that whole pesky “tie game” situation Vancouver found themselves in when he set up Nick Schmaltz for his second goal of the night off of a faceoff:

The worst part is that Schmaltz didn’t even have to do anything to get open like that, Filip Chytil just sort of “later homies” his way out of frame, while Tyler Myers had a decision to make, cover the middle or run to the corner to cover a dude, and you know our Chaos Giraffe can’t resist the pull of the corner.

And to be clear, that’s Chytil’s guy. Myers did nothing intrinsically wrong on the play; he released his guy off the draw and went to the net, and then assumed Chytil had Nick. If Myers jumps up to cover, he leaves Durzi all alone in the corner, which arguably isn’t the worst thing in the world, but this also kind of shows the zero-sum game the Canucks defensive strategies utilize most nights.

Lankinen probably also wishes he didn’t slide so far to his right, but honestly, this was a night in which everything was going against him. He should be happy a car didn’t run through the boards and hit him.

Best High Danger Fallacy

Sportsnet reminded us of a quaint January stat for Vancouver in which, you know what? They might be the most dangerous team in the NHL. By the numbers. Kind of.

Anyone who has watched this team knows they are not generating good-quality, high-danger chances. There is a difference between what Colorado creates and what Vancouver creates. The Canucks are very much in their ‘Nailed It!’ phase of their life in which nothing looks like the picture in the recipe book, despite their best efforts.

Aside from their first goal of the night, it was more of the usual from Vancouver, in which they flung the puck towards the net and tried to get a piece of it:

Again, that’s not the worst play from Tyler Myers and Evander Kane, but when that’s a high point of your offence, you know you’re in a bit of trouble.

Best slowly sinking

Man, Utah just killing the #Canucks in the soft areas¹ of the ice.

¹ The defensive zone. All of it. And the neutral zone. Parts of the offensive zone and all the corners, too.

— Jay (@BBLPWSTLR) February 3, 2026

As the game wore on, you just felt like it was a night that was getting away from Vancouver. Cracks started appearing, and the chances began piling up for Utah, many of them self-inflicted wounds from Vancouver’s side of things.

Dylan Guenther almost made it 3-1 at one point when Marcus Pettersson inexplicably decided that a no-look backhand pass into the middle of the ice on the penalty kill was just the strategy needed at the moment:

That’s a bold play from the veteran Canuck who has struggled as much as anyone on the backend this season. I swear to God, Adam Foote’s system is slowly killing all of the defencemen on this team aside from Uncle Fil.

Zone exits just seemed to be a hill too high to climb for Vancouver, though, as Linus Karlsson would find out when he sent a pass that Chytil blew the zone on, and Defensive Oriented Elias Pettersson looked upon with sadness, before Uncle Fil had to save the day and block the shot:

This is life when you don’t have Quinn Hughes auto-generating 85% of your zone exits all by himself, a point further hammered home by PO Joseph, who couldn’t get the puck out of his zone even when he was within a few feet of it:

The only time PO Joseph should be fancy is when Spotify steps up and leans into his Iggy Azalea listening habits.

Or for the truly cultured people amongst us: Reba McEntire’s listening habits.

Best going for two

Jonathan Lekkerimäki played just 1:40 at five-on-five for the #Canucks in the first period.

— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) February 3, 2026

The good news is that Jonathan Lekkerimäki didn’t finish dead last on the team in even-strength ice time.

He finished the night second last in even-strength ice time with 8:28 minutes.

He finished just ahead of Filip Chytil, who didn’t return to the game after the second period due to injury.

Look, when you’re down in a game, you need your veterans out there to make sure it doesn’t turn into a 10-2 game; you have to keep it to a respectable six goals against. The kids don’t know that yet.

Best go get ’em kid

Ohgren looks like he has a really bright future. #Canucks

— Dominik Sodin (@Dominik171888) February 3, 2026

I feel like it’s a safe bet to say that Liam Öhgren could be a very useful roster player for a good team one day. He just has a high-end work rate that couples nicely with his natural skill, which shines especially bright on a team filled with veterans who can’t stop watching YouTube highlights of their playoff run from a couple of seasons back, wondering how it all ended up like this.

So, while there is something deflating about lifting Liam up like a young Lion King and presenting him to the crowd every time he has a competent shift, that’s sort of where we are right now: figuring out who might be part of the building blocks of the next regime.

Which is why we will enjoy moments like this, where he rushes in and takes on two Utah players and prevents them from making a zone exit, leading to an extended shift in the offensive zone:

Not the sexiest highlight…wait, you know what? Sometimes fundamentals are sexy, damn it. Sometimes being able to quickly count up your Cribbage score before anyone else is the height of sexuality, and I am tired of pretending it isn’t.

You had the nobs, Elizabeth. You forgot the nobs again.

Best adventure time with Evander

Kane to the penalty box? shocker. #canucks

— Coco (@AllLoveCoco) February 3, 2026

Planet Ice both giveth and taketh, mostly depending on which zone he’s in.

Offensive zone? Hell yeah, Kane is going to get his scoring chances, and heck, he might even hit a post after Garland saves Willander’s bacon on a back check:

But then, when you get into the defensive zone, the power of the ring becomes too much to bear, and Gollum Kane comes out, and now he’s lazily sweeping his stick in the general direction of someone, taking them down by shoving his stick betwixt their feet:

And while Planet Ice is in the box muttering about dirty hobbitses, here’s Mikhail Sergachev one-timing a puck off the leg of Marcus Pettersson, right past Lankinen:

The Canucks are kind of stationary on the penalty kill, but they’re still ok as a point shot shouldn’t be that scary. Except when it deflects off your leg as your season from hell continues.

Then, to add insult to injury, Mikhail Sergachev waves in the general direction of someone and absolutely no sells it:

Was it at Evander? Was it the players’ mothers who made the trip? Was it a genuine wave? Was it dripping in mockery?

We might never know.

Best defenseman see defenseman do

The Canucks Mum's aren't mad, they're disappointed. #Canucks

— Rob Hodkinson (@RobHodkinson) February 3, 2026

Clayton Keller saw Sergachev score by banking the puck in off a Canuck, and he was probably all “hell yeah, that looks awesome, I wanna do that”, so here he is banking a puck in off the skate of Defensive Guru Elias Pettersson:

The important thing to note is how much time Keller has to decide what he wants to do in life. Be a doctor? Be an actor? Score a goal? Anything was possible in that moment; Clayton never felt lighter in his life. Suddenly, the weight of the world was off his shoulders, and the only decision he had to make was who to fist-bump in celebration first.

Best here comes the pain

What’s going on with these bench changes #canucks! Players not knowing who or when to jump on to the ice!

— JD_Aust (@JD_Aust4005) February 3, 2026

Utah did not relent in the second period, as Teddy Blueger got absolutely dog-walked by Schmaltz after PO Jospeh and DP25 took turns trying to out-polite each other on a line change.

“No, you go on.” No, no, you go off.” “No, no, I insist, you change first.” “My good man, I couldn’t possibly intrude upon your day like that.”

All of which led to Lawson Crouse narrowly missing a Schmaltz centring pass for a tap-in:

This was a night in which Schmaltz probably could have had eight points, so you do, in a way, feel lucky he only got the four.

Best that’s saying it lightly

Pretty rough #Canucks

— x – Sports and tech twitt-er (@outta_watson) February 3, 2026

JJ Peterka would then make it five for the Mammoth after Marcus Pettersson once again failed to clear the zone, leading to an extended shift for Utah ending in a goal:

The Canucks were chasing the puck the entire shift, and honestly, I just felt bad for Lankinen at the end of it all. He’s basically swimming in his net, praying the loud buzzer doesn’t go off again. There was something dystopian about watching him in net during the second period.

Best are you sure about that?

Blueger's goal at least makes it interesting #Canucks

— JohnnyCanuckDownUnder (@NuckDownUnder) February 3, 2026

The good news for trade deadline enthusiasts is that Teddy Blueger notched his fifth goal in nine games after Conor Garland found him in the slot with a pass from the corner:

Garland and Blue Blue would lead the team in points with two each, which, hey, sure, sounds good. Nothing seems to matter this year, so I don’t know if this increases their trade value or if they are staying here forever. Who knows.

All I know is they still have some chemistry, as they would almost score later in the third period when Garland again set up Blueger in the slot from the corner:

There was once a time in which Blue Blue and Corolla were part of an elite third line unit that wasn’t relied upon to be the best trio on the ice.

Remember the Lotto Line?

Remember when Tyler Toffoli was a sign of things to come?

Good times, good times.

Best exactly as stated

The #Canucks had an exhausted Zombies Coyotes line pinned in deep, and it ends with the Canucks self-clearing the offensive zone. That's how you secure 32nd.

— Matt MacInnis (@Matt_MacInnis) February 3, 2026

After keeping Utah hemmed in their own zone and getting the dreaded “shift length” chevron, Vancouver would promptly feed the puck across the blueline and lose the offensive zone:

Weeeeeeee!

Best story time with Evander again

evander kane can FAWK RIGHT OFF

— tana (@ilysbfrost) February 3, 2026

OK, let’s get back to Planet Ice. It’s the third period, and his team is losing badly. He’s been chirping the other team all night, but it doesn’t quite land the same when you don’t have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl around to back your sh!t talking up. It’s hard to “Scoreboard!” someone when David Kämpf is out there trying to go end to end.

So what do you do? You get angry and throw a big hit, as Evander did on Durzi in the third:

Sean Durzi left the game after this hit, so if you’re selling at the deadline, you lean into that. What a physical presence Planet Ice brings to a lineup, what a nice boost of offensive skill as well. No, no, don’t ask about defence, look at the hit, always the hit.

Kane then even went so far as to draw a penalty by going full Planet Ice and tripping Jack McBain off the faceoff and garnering a reaction worthy of sitting in the penalty box:

There is a level of Jarkko Ruutu in that that I can’t help but respect.

Unfortunately, the Mammoth killed off the penalty, and then we ended up right back at the start again, with Nick Schmaltz scoring his third goal of the night on a setup from Keller:

Uncle Fil goes for a pinch and gets beat, and then Utah executes the two-on-one perfectly.

That being said, Tolopilo totally stops that one, right? I am not saying he wins the game; I am not saying he doesn’t let in a lot of goals in this game if he started, but I am positive he stops this one particular play.

All of which brings us back to Evander Kane and him getting saved by the officials when they broke up Liam O’Brien trying to fight him:

Nikita Zadorov would have taken off his own skate and beaten the officials in order to get at O’Brien there, that’s all I am saying.

Still, you package some of these highlights from Kane, add some star wipes, and you can probably get a decent return at the deadline.

Best those were the days

The Zadorov Era went by way too fast

— Josh (@joshcrawford93) February 3, 2026

Back when the Canucks had swagger.

Best new outlook

3 years to rebuild is wishful thinking #Canucks

— steamer12 (@BastoneJeff) February 3, 2026

By the time the end of the game rolled around, Utah was straight stunting on the Canucks, pushing hard for the seventh goal:

Utah was just flat out the better team on the night. There is no other spin to put on it. We don’t need to dive into “what does this all mean??”

It’s just a simple fact that Utah was the better team on the night, and Vancouver had no answers.

And onwards we march.

Biggest worrying news

Adam Foote says Filip Chytil tweaked something, which is why he didn’t play the third period.

When asked as a follow up “is it a head injury,” Foote responded: “I hope not.” #Canucks

— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) February 3, 2026

The question on everyone’s mind, is it concussion related?

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/stanch...h-mammoth-crawl-nhl-olympic-break-finish-line

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Two years ago today, the Canucks sent seven to NHL All-Star weekend

What a difference two years make.

Two years ago today, this (should we call it infamous now?) photo at NHL All-Star weekend was snapped.

The Canucks, who went on to win the Pacific Division before being eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in round two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, boasted seven representatives at NHL All-Star weekend just two years ago.

From left to right:
-Goaltender Thatcher Demko, who posted a .918 save percentage across 51 starts and finished as runner-up to Connor Hellebuyck for the Vezina Trophy.
-Brock Boeser, who not only eclipsed 30 goals for the first time in his career, but reached the 40 goal mark as well before producing at a point per game clip through 12 playoff games (with seven goals).
-JT Miller, who put up 103 points and eclipsed 30 goals for the third straight season in 2023-24.
-Quinn Hughes, holder of multiple Canucks franchise records among defencemen, would go on to win the first Norris Trophy in Canucks history later that season.
-Elias Pettersson, well on his way to eclipsing the 100-point mark for the second-straight season, Pettersson’s production declined later this season, but he still managed to finish with 34 goals and 89 points.
-Elias Lindholm, acquired by Calgary just days prior, he played a key role for the Canucks down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Of course, this was also the last NHL All-Star weekend, as the 4 Nations Face-Off served as a replacement in 24-25, and the 2026 Winter Olympics will see the NHL pause its season for nearly three weeks beginning this Thursday.

So where are those All-Stars of two years ago now? Again, working from left to right…

-Has played in just 43 non-consecutive regular-season games since then, and is now out for the rest of this season with the second hip surgery of his career.
-Signed a new contract after feeling disrespected by the organization, has struggled to score goals since the club traded away his linemate.
-Boeser’s linemate, traded for a 1st round pick (which turned into Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor before anyone had time to blink), Filip Chytil, and Victor Mancini. Things have gone poorly for him with the New York Rangers, where he was named captain at the start of this season. The Rangers are now entering a retool phase.
-Asked out of Vancouver, and helped kickstart a long overdue Canucks rebuild, that fans are currently waiting to see if the organization can be patient enough to see it through.
-Signed a big-ticket long-term contract extension in March 2024, and has scored 32 goals in 144 games since.
-Walked in the offseason to sign as a free agent with the Boston Bruins.

The only one of these players who will be in the Canucks’ lineup Wednesday night when they take on the Vegas Golden Knights will be Elias Pettersson, as Brock Boeser is out with a concussion and Demko is recovering from surgery. Oh, and Rick Tocchet was an All-Star coach that year as well, and went on to win the Jack Adams Award.

What a difference two years can make.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/two-years-ago-vancouver-canucks-sent-seven-players-nhl-all-star-weekend

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Adam Foote to remain Canucks’ coach ‘at least’ for the rest of the season: report

Don’t expect the Vancouver Canucks to make a coaching change. Not before or during the upcoming Olympic break, or for the rest of the season, for that matter.

According to a Wednesday morning report from The Athletic’s Thomas Drance, the Canucks have no intention of replacing Adam Foote behind their bench at any point this season.

“Last week on Sekeres and Price, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported the club had no interest in replacing Foote ahead of or during the Olympic break. I checked in with team sources on the matter this week and can confirm Dreger’s reporting and add some additional context.

Based on what I’m hearing, the club sees no reason to consider an in-season change behind the bench. Internally, the decision has effectively already been made. Foote will at least remain behind the Canucks bench to finish out this season.

Drance adds that the Canucks will re-evaluate Foote’s coaching performance in the offseason, but that they have “no appetite to change coaches in-season.”

The Canucks’ season has gone off the rails, to say the least. Dealt a tough hand in the form of injuries right out of the gate, the Canucks quickly found themselves in the league’s basement in a hurry. Plenty of blame has been directed towards Foote for the team’s struggles, particularly in defending. Heading into play on February 4th, the Canucks have given up a league-worst 205 goals against and have the worst goal differential in the league at -58.

Now, a big part of the Canucks’ rebuild is to secure the best odds at landing the first overall pick, and at the very least, ensuring they can’t draft lower than third overall. The only way to do that is by finishing in last place, something the club hasn’t done since the 1971-72 season. Currently, the Canucks sit in 32nd place, but teams like the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, and retooling New York Rangers could pose late-season threats down the stretch, especially if the Canucks were to benefit from a new coach bump.

What are your thoughts on all of this? Let us know in the comments section below! And check out the full article from Drance by clicking here!

READ NEXT: Searching for flippable cap dumps for the Canucks to acquire​

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-news-rumours-adam-foote-remain-coach-season-report

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Projected 2026 NHL Draft 1st overall pick Gavin McKenna charged with aggravated assault

One of the top prospects in the 2026 NHL Draft is potentially facing criminal charges.

Penn State forward Gavin McKenna is facing four charges: aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct, for an incident that occurred Saturday, January 31, following their outdoor game against the Michigan State Spartans.

Onward State first reported the news on Wednesday afternoon. Here are two paragraphs from the report:

“State College police charged McKenna, 18, with felony aggravated assault that “attempts to cause serious bodily injury or causes injury with extreme indifference,” misdemeanor simple assault, and two summary offenses for disorderly conduct and harassment. If found guilty, McKenna faces up to 20 years in prison on the felony charge alone.

“According to sources, the team had been at a downtown bar with friends and family following the outdoor game at Beaver Stadium. During the incident, McKenna allegedly assaulted an unidentified individual, leaving the victim with a broken jaw.”

You can read the full report here!

JUST IN: Gavin McKenna is facing four charges, including a felony of aggravated assault, after an alleged altercation downtown Saturday night.https://t.co/PwFisKW9LV

— Onward State (@OnwardState) February 4, 2026

After firmly cementing himself among one of the greatest seasons in WHL history, with 41 goals and 129 points in 56 games, and leading his team to a WHL Championship, McKenna wanted to challenge himself through the NCAA route, signing with the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Playing against an older age group, the 18-year-old struggled out of the gate. But has since turned it around, scoring 11 goals and 32 points through 24 games. McKenna’s turnaround came following the 2026 World Junior Championships, where he scored four goals and 10 assists for 14 points in just seven games. Since returning, the Whitehorse, Yukon native has scored seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in just eight games.

The McKenna case file from the Pennsylvania court website is attached below:

Gavin McKenna's case file from the Pennsylvania courts website.https://t.co/rGxZJecdGq pic.twitter.com/R5WCtjTVU3

— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) February 4, 2026

We will wait for more information on the matter. We will update as details surface, as the story particularly pertains to Vancouver Canucks fans, who currently sit 32nd in the NHL standings.

UPDATE

Evan Smith, a Penn State sports reporter, shared a statement regarding the Gavin McKenna situation from the State College Police Department:

State College Police Department releases statement on Gavin McKenna pic.twitter.com/04vTWSZ8YC

— Evan Smith (@EvanRGSmith) February 5, 2026

McKenna was released on $20,000 bail. He has a preliminary hearing for the case at 8:30 AM on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

More to come.

Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/projected-2026-nhl-draft-gavin-mckenna-charged-aggravated-assault

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

NHL Notebook: Rangers trade Artemi Panarin to Kings before NHL Olympic roster freeze

Welcome back to NHL Notebook — the series here at CanucksArmy where we deliver you news and notes from around the National Hockey League — oftentimes through a Vancouver Canucks-tinted lens!

Hours before the Vancouver Canucks dropped the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights in their final game before the Olympics, the NHL set its Olympic roster freeze deadline. As the Canucks were on their moms’ trip, it was always unlikely the club would move one of its players while the mothers were on the road with them.

However, the same can’t be said for a pair of New York-based organizations.

Rangers send Panarin to Kings​

Shockingly, NFL Insider Adam Schefter broke the news that the Los Angeles Kings acquired Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers in exchange for prospect forward Liam Greentree and a conditional 2026 third-round pick.

ESPN sources: The LA Kings have acquired standout forward Artemi Panarin from the NY Rangers in exchange for a conditional third-round pick and prospect Liam Greentree, per me and @emilymkaplan. pic.twitter.com/2PuTENRhEH

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 4, 2026

Shortly after the move was made, NHL Insider Frank Seravalli mentioned that Panarin’s camp listed the Kings as the only destination he would waive his no-move clause for. Seravalli also shared there was another pick involved – a conditional fourth-round pick in 2028 – and the conditions on the picks.

The 2026 third-round pick becomes a second-round pick if the Kings win a single playoff round. If not, the Rangers get the higher of Dallas’ or LA’s. The 2028 fourth-round pick will only be transferred if LA wins two rounds.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun also mentioned that the Rangers are retainning 50% of Panarin’s contract. According to fellow insiders, the belief was that Panarin did not want to be a rental. He would only waive to a team if it came with an extension. Well, shortly after the trade, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman announced a two-year, $11 million extension for the Russian winger.

Panarin extends with LA:

2 x $11M AAV

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 4, 2026

Panarin, 34, has spent six and a half seasons in the Big Apple. His 205 goals and 607 points in 482 games as a Ranger have him ninth in all-time team scoring. The Rangers wrote a letter to their fans announcing a change in direction toward a retool. Shortly after, the club informed their leading point scorer that he would sit out until they found a trade partner.

The Rangers lost all three games without Panarin, but have now found him a new home out West in Los Angeles.

Greentree, 20, was drafted by the Kings in the first round (26th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft. He had a strong draft-plus-one season, where he scored 49 goals and 70 assists for 119 points in 64 games in the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires. The Oshawa, Ontario native has cooled off a bit this season, scoring 23 goals and 22 assists for 45 points in 34 games.

However, he was considered the Kings’ top prospect in the system. And with his 6’3″, 216-lb frame, he projects to translate to a powerful middle-six winger at the NHL level.

Devils acquire Bjugstad from Blues​

New Jersey made a trade of their own, acquiring forward Nick Bjugstad from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for prospect Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional 2026 fourth-round pick. The condition on the pick is that the Blues will receive the lowest of the Devils’ three fourth-round picks (NJD, DAL or WPG).

#NEWS: We’ve acquired forward Nick Bjugstad from the St. Louis Blues for forward Thomas Bordeleau and a conditional 2026 fourth-round draft pick.

: https://t.co/tg3goXnl92 pic.twitter.com/EZMXoCbnlI

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) February 4, 2026

Bjugstad, 33, signed a two-year, $1.75 million AAV contract with the Blues halfway through free agency. He has struggled through injury this season, playing just 35 games, scoring six goals and one assist for seven points. The 6’6″ right-shot forward will provide the Devils with much-needed centre depth they’ve been searching for most of this season.

Late in January, the Devils moved forward Ondrej Palat and his $6 million cap hit – along with a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick to get rid of the contract – to the New York Islanders in exchange for Maxim Tsyplakov. The move helped them clear roughly $4 million in cap space. However, it came a little late, and the Devils missed out on their preferred target in Quinn Hughes.

As of this writing, the New Jersey Devils sit in second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Boston Bruins by 11 points. It will be an uphill battle for the Devils in their attempt to claw back into playoff contention. And if they can’t make the comeback, they will have Bjugstad on the books for next year’s run as well.

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[Vancouver Canucks]

Ben Berard to represent Abbotsford Canucks at 2026 AHL All-Star Classic

A change in who will be representing the blue and green at one of minor-league hockey’s premier events.

On Thursday, it was announced that Abbotsford Canucks forward Ben Berard has been named to the Pacific Division roster for the 2026 American Hockey League All-Star Classic.

HEY NOW, BEN IS OUR ALL STAR!

Congratulations to Ben Berard on being selected to represent Abbotsford at the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic, presented by BMO! Berard will be our sole representative, as defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev is unable to attend due to injury.

FULL DETAILS… pic.twitter.com/JZy3Vlztjd

— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) February 5, 2026

Vancouver assistant general manager Ryan Johnson noted that Berard’s work ethic has earned him the honour.

“Ben took advantage of a great opportunity coming into this season and earned everything he’s gotten,” Johnson said. “This is a terrific acknowledgement for Ben, and we are proud to have him be our representative at the All-Star Classic.”

The decision comes after the team’s original representative, defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev, has been ruled out of the event due to injury.

Berard has been a member of the Vancouver Canucks‘ organization since the 2024-25 season after two years with the Texas Stars, the Dallas Stars’ top farm team.

The Cornell product played just four games with Abbotsford that season, instead spending the majority of the year with the Canucks’ ECHL farm team, the Kalamazoo Wings. After an exceptional 40-point performance, Berard has earned a full-time spot with Abbotsford this season.

In 43 games thus far, the 26-year-old has scored nine goals and 14 assists, leading the Canucks with 23 points.

Berard becomes the fifth player from the Abby Canucks to play in the All-Star Classic, and the second from British Columbia. Last season, defenceman Elias Pettersson was named an All-Star, but did not attend as he was in Vancouver. Ty Mueller stepped into his spot. Forward Arshdeep Bains represented Abbotsford in 2024, while Christian Wolanin was the franchise’s first representative in the 2023 event.

The All-Star Classic is set to take place at the BMO Harris Bank Center, home of the Rockford Ice Hogs. The festivities begin on Feb. 10 with the skills competition. The four divisions competing in the All-Star Challenge on Feb. 11 feature eight-minute 3-on-3 games, with the two best teams from the round-robin facing off in the championship game.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/ben-berard-represent-abbotsford-canucks-2026-ahl-all-star-classic

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

NHL trade rumours: Can the Canucks take Warren Foegele off the LA Kings’ hands?

It’s February, March is coming, and the Vancouver Canucks may be considering shopping for expensive players as the NHL Trade Deadline approaches. Sound familiar? It should, but this time, there’s a difference. Instead of chasing a playoff spot – and, at the same time, lowering their draft lottery odds – this time around, the Canucks are said to be chasing longer-term goals.

This time around, if the Canucks are going to be adding anyone with a considerable price tag, they’re going to be doing so in the form of a cap dump. And taking on cap dumps can come with a whole host of benefits that pay off down the road, as opposed to right now.

We’ve written already about the Canucks’ ability to take on cap dumps in general, and found them to have plenty of cap space available for that purpose – and the ability to create more through things like LTIR, if they so choose. We’ve also already written about the potential for the Canucks to take on some “flippable” cap dumps with term left, so as to profit twice over, once through being paid to take on a player, and again through trading that player with retention in a future season.

And now, we’ve got an interesting rumoured case study to further illustrate how all this might work.

Warren Foegele, currently of the Los Angeles Kings, is a nine-year NHL veteran. The 29-year-old has scored as many as 24 goals and 46 points in a single season, with both highs being set last year. The 6’2”, 205-pound Foegele is described as someone with a lot of physical gifts, primarily in that combination of size and speed, but not an abundance of skill. He’s traditionally worked hard to contribute from wherever in the lineup he finds himself, and has seemed to get better with age.

Except, that is, for this current 2025-26 season. This year, Foegele has fallen off the proverbial cliff. He’s gone from that career high of 24 goals and 46 points to just six goals and eight points in 43 games thus far. That’s a pace of just 14 points across an entire 82-game schedule, which would be a lower total than Foegele has ever achieved, including his rookie season.

Of course, Foegele isn’t going to play 82 games this season. Primarily because his play has recently made him a healthy scratch for the Kings. He sat out the most recent four games for LA heading into the Olympic Break. And now, Elliotte Friedman is reporting that Foegele is someone the Kings would prefer to move on from as they attempt to create more cap space for other acquisitions.

The Kings have already taken their big swing, picking up a 50% retained Artemi Panarin for prospect Liam Greentree and some conditional picks (and then signing Panarin to a two-year extension). But, as Friedman puts it, the Kings would still prefer to add more if they could, and specifically another top-six centre.

The desire to do so should be fairly obvious. The Kings would sure love to at least make the playoffs in what will be Anze Kopitar’s final season, and they’ve already invested some considerable resources into doing so, but they’re still going to be in tough. Heading into the Olympic Break, the Kings are three points back of the Anaheim Ducks for the final wild card spot in the West, and need all the help they can get to climb further.

But if they’re going to go shopping for pieces as big as Vincent Trocheck, as Friedman suggests, they’re going to need a bit more roster and cap space, both now and into future seasons. The player they’d like to move in order to create that space is, naturally, the one they’re not using right now in Foegele. And here is where the Canucks could enter the picture.

Foegle could be exactly what the Canucks are looking for in a flippable cap dump. He is enough in the way of the situation in Los Angeles that they should be willing to pay to get rid of him. No one is going to take a player with eight points and a $3.5 million cap hit off of waivers, and that salary is too big to bury – and it carries on into next season. To ditch Foegele right here and right now, it would probably cost the Kings a mid-round pick of some sort, and that’s something the Canucks could certainly use more of.

But acquiring a cap dump like Foegele is less about that initial payment, and more about what he can eventually be turned into. Because Foegele is a cap dump, yes, but he’s also one with excessive rebound potential. He is, after all, just one year removed from a 24-goal campaign, and he had 20 the year before that. It’s entirely possible that all Foegele is experiencing right now is a one-off, ill-timed slump. At 29, he’s a little too young to have really fallen off any age-based cliffs. And that means the chances of Foegele rebounding into someone the Canucks could sell at a profit by next season is higher than it is with most cap dumps, and that should have the interest of Vancouver management.

This is especially true if the Canucks succeed in selling off some of their veterans within this 2025-26 season. Sell Evander Kane to the highest bidder, for example, and then hand his role and minutes off to Foegele. That provides an adequate veteran replacement in the short-term, and it gives Foegele the best chance of finding his offence again.

Flash-forward to the 2026-27 season. If the Canucks have got Foegele back to somewhere around 20-goal-pace territory by then, at that point, they can begin to shop him around. A rebounded Foegele, now a pending UFA, suddenly becomes a much more appealing trade target than he is right now.

That’s the kind of player that could return something like a second round pick in the right circumstances, and probably at least a third.

So, all told, by acquiring and rehabilitating the play of Foegele within this season, the Canucks could get a mid-round pick now and something better next year, and in between they’d have some decent veteran coverage on their roster to make it all the more easy to trade off other veterans, something that brings more profit to the table.

One even wonders if that first payoff is truly necessary. Maybe the Canucks could really help the Kings out by taking on Foegele for essentially free right now, or for “future considerations,” and bank it all on his reboundability. As far as cap dumps worth making that bet on, one won’t find too many better than Foegele out there.

Really, it’s hard to think of any reasons not to do something like this, so long as Foegele’s measly five-team no-trade clause doesn’t get in the way. It’s the kind of double-dipping asset management that is not just smart business but could also help the Canucks make up for years of neglecting future assets. The rebuild has started a step or two behind as a result, but steps can always be made up.

Acquiring a player in the midst of the worst season of their career may not be an exciting idea on the surface of it. But such buy-low transactions can pay off big down the road, and down the road is exactly where the Canucks need to be thinking about right now – even if “down the road” just means to the 2027 NHL Trade Deadline.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/nhl-trade-rumours-vancouver-canucks-warren-foegele-la-kings-hands

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Abby Canucks preview: Lekkerimäki and Tolopilo back in action as Barracuda come to town

The Abbotsford Canucks are back home at the Rogers Forum to kick off a four-game homestand.

First up are the San Jose Barracuda, who arrive riding a four-game winning streak. On the strength of a 7–2–0–1 run over their last ten games, the San Jose Sharks’ affiliate has climbed to fourth place in the Pacific Division and enters the weekend playing some of its best hockey of the season.

Abbotsford, meanwhile, returns home still searching for traction. Losers of three straight, the Canucks continue to battle through an uneven 2025–26 campaign. With a 26–15–25–3 record, they currently sit at the bottom of the Pacific Division, ten points outside a playoff position.

The season series has been competitive, despite the standings gap. Abbotsford holds a 1–2–1 record against San Jose, with three of the four meetings decided by two goals or fewer. The Barracuda own a narrow 12–10 edge in goals in those three meetings. That margin excludes a lopsided 7–0 San Jose win in the opening matchup.

Players of note​

On a positive note, there may be some reinforcements on the way for the home side. With the NHL on its Olympic break, Abbotsford is expected to welcome back forward Jonathan Lekkerimäki, defenceman Victor Mancini, and goaltender Nikita Tolopilo.

Lekkerimäki enters the weekend riding a four-game AHL point streak, with goals in three of his last four outings. In just ten games, he leads the team in goals with 10 and ranks fifth in scoring with 16 points.

On the injury front, defenceman Kirill Kudryavtsev — originally named to represent the club at the AHL All-Star event — was replaced by forward Ben Berard, suggesting he may not be ready to return this weekend. Kudryavtsev has missed 13 consecutive games with an undisclosed injury.

Forward Vilmer Alriksson also remains a question mark after missing the final game of the team’s recent road trip. According to the visiting broadcast in Bakersfield, he was seen walking with his arm in a sling following a hit along the boards.

As is often the case in the AHL, Abbotsford is expected to rotate its goaltenders. Nikita Tolopilo (5–5–3, 2.94 GAA, .901 SV%) and Aku Koskenvuo (2–5–1, 3.20 GAA, .895 SV%) are projected to split the two-game set.

Keys to the series​

Special teams could prove large in this series. Discipline will be critical for Abbotsford, which enters the weekend with the league’s lowest penalty-kill percentage at 75.0%. That task becomes even more difficult against a San Jose power play clicking at 24.7%, the second-best mark in the AHL.

Limiting time shorthanded will go a long way in determining whether Abbotsford can halt San Jose’s momentum.

What’s next?​

Game one goes Friday night with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m. PT, followed by a Saturday rematch at 4:00 p.m. PT.

After the weekend, the Canucks will enjoy a full week off before returning to action against the Ontario Reign on February 14 and 16.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/abby-c...an-lekkerimaki-nikita-tolopilo-barracuda-town

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

CA’s top 15 mid-season Canucks prospect rankings: #14 Wilson Björck

We continue on with our 2026 mid-season Vancouver Canucks prospect rankings here at CanucksArmy.

With the Honourable Mentions and our first-ranked prospect now off the board, we bring you a high-motor, skilled Swede playing in the NCAA. If you’re looking for a refresher on our ranking criteria, be sure to check out our Honourable Mentions installment before diving in.

Wilson Björck​

Team: Colorado College (NCAA) | Age: 20 | Position: Left Wing | Height: 6’0 | Weight: 176 lbs | Shoots: Left | Drafted: Fifth round, 143 overall, 2025 | Summer rank: 17

Regardless of where you believe Wilson Björck ultimately lands in his professional career, there’s no denying he’s one of the more entertaining prospects within the Vancouver Canucks’ system.

If you’ve ever heard the term “honey badger” thrown around in hockey circles, Björck fits it to a tee. His motor never stops. Despite sitting on the lighter side of the scale, he attacks traffic with little hesitation, darts into dirty areas, and makes nights a constant headache for his opposition. Watching his shifts, you get the sense that he’s more than likely one of the opponent’s most hated opponents for the simple fact that he just won’t go away.

And frankly, we love that about him.

Taking the road less travelled from Sweden to the NCAA, Björck has settled into a top-six role with Colorado College. Through the first half of the season, he’s posted 12 points (five goals, seven assists) and has been a regular contributor on the second power-play unit. The raw numbers may not leap off the page, but some of that should be taken with a little context. Colorado College has struggled mightily, sitting near the bottom of the NCHC standings and ranked the lowest-scoring team in the conference.

So why does he land at No. 14?

The answer lies less in effort and more in projection. Björck carries a lighter frame and is already 20 years old as a re-entry draft pick. While he earned a spot at Sweden’s World Junior camp, he wasn’t able to crack the final roster despite being the oldest player in the mix. The tools are there, but the question now is how effectively they translate as the competition stiffens.

What keeps Björck firmly on the radar, however, is how his game is built. And when you think of smaller set forwards, there’s no one better to bet on than players who bring the combination of determination and relentlessness. He pairs that motor with a creative offensive mindset and a sneaky release, allowing him to capitalize when defenders underestimate him.

He plays with his head up, constantly scanning and processing, which allows him to slip through traffic and avoid unnecessary punishment. With the puck, he’s surprisingly cerebral, often slowing the play down just enough before either pulling up for a curl-and-shoot release or finding a teammate in space.

And then there’s the motor. Björck hounds puck carriers, digs relentlessly in the corners, and isn’t shy about driving the middle of the ice. Does he get pushed around at times? Does he bounce off bodies? Absolutely. Going forward, that’s likely the biggest hurdle he’ll face as he climbs toward the professional ranks. But a lack of compete has never been, and will likely never be, a concern.

We love him for the tools he brings, but understand that there’s still a long road ahead and physical maturity to come. With the upcoming draft offering the chance to select his younger brother, Viggo, there is potential to add some fun dynamics ahead. One can dream, right?

Projection​

Ceiling: With his hockey IQ, creativity, and non-stop motor, Björck could carve out a role as an energy-driven third-line winger who chips in offensively and contributes on a second power-play unit.

Floor: Like many skilled but undersized forwards, there’s a realistic scenario where he returns to Sweden and builds a solid professional career at the SHL level.

ETA: There’s no urgency for Björck to turn pro. Another season at the collegiate level to add strength and continue refining his game feels likely. From there, his NHL timeline projects as a longer-term play — potentially three to four years down the road.

That’s our #14 spot. Stay tuned for another installment tomorrow here at CanucksArmy.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/cas-to...er-canucks-prospect-rankings-14-wilson-bjorck

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

2026 NHL Draft: Who are the Canucks’ top threats to land best odds at first overall?

Saying that the 2025-26 season hasn’t gone the way the Vancouver Canucks organization or their fans envisioned heading into the year would be a massive understatement.

With the direction of pushing for the playoffs and an unofficial but very obvious ‘Win for Quinn’ motto, Canucks management doubled down on its current core that missed the playoffs the year prior. Those decisions, along with a laundry list of injuries and learning new systems from a first-year head coach, have the Canucks dead last in the NHL standings.

As a result, the team has announced it will transition to a rebuild. And with rebuilds, the focus and entertainment value switch from the on-ice product to the future. Who is going to be the next wave of Canucks that will lead the way to contending seasons? That’s what fans get excited for in times like these.

And where do you get those types of players who can alter your franchise? High in the NHL Draft. Luckily for the Canucks, being dead last in the NHL standings gives you the best odds at landing the first overall pick.

But there’s still roughly a quarter of the season left, and a trade deadline before the lottery balls are pulled. A lot can change. Teams can get worse and sink in the standings, while other teams give their young players more opportunities and play themselves out of a higher draft position.

So, who are the most threatening teams to challenge the Canucks for the best odds at landing the first overall pick?

Who are the Canucks’ top threats to land the best odds at first overall?​

First, let’s look at the NHL standings, as of this writing:

As of this writing, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues and your Vancouver Canucks are all out of a playoff spot.

However, we can comfortably eliminate 10 teams from contention for the best odds at first overall.

In the East, it’s still a tight race. Six of the eight teams out of the playoffs are within 10 points of the final Wild Card spot. But it’s easy to see the contenders and pretenders. The Blue Jackets, Maple Leafs, Capitals, Senators, and Panthers are still actively pushing for the playoffs. Whether they are actual contenders for the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins for a Wild Card spot is another question, but that takes them out of the best odds for first overall contention.

There’s a bigger gap in the West. Four of the eight teams are within 10 points of the last Wild Card spot, but three of those teams are within five points and are more serious threats. The Kings, Sharks, and Predators are the three teams, while the Blackhawks are within the 10-point threshold, and the Jets are just one point behind them.

The first three teams may not add at the upcoming NHL Trade Deadline, but their goal is to make the playoffs. The Blackhawks have been grinding through their rebuild for some time; they likely won’t be too active on the trade market, thus won’t be making their team worse. We don’t believe anybody anticipated the Jets to be in the position they’re in coming into the season. Last year’s Presidents’ Trophy winners have a playoff-calibre roster; things just haven’t gone their way. So, it’s probably safe to cross them off this list.

That leaves the Flyers, Devils and Rangers in the East, and the Flames and Blues in the West, as contenders for the Canucks for the best odds at first overall.

However, we can shave the list down even further. Here are the point totals for the remaining six teams, as of this writing:

Flyers – 60 points

Devils – 58 points

Flames – 52 points

Rangers – 50 points

Blues – 49 points

Canucks – 42 points

The Flyers and Devils may be trending in the wrong direction, but they’ve built themselves a sizeable lead on the Canucks in the standings. The Flyers are 18 points ahead of the Canucks, while the Devils are 16. They would need to make up nine wins on the Flyers and eight on the Devils in order just to tie those respective teams.

Based on the Canucks’ .368 point percentage, they are projected to win around nine of their final 25 games. The Flyers and Devils would have to lose nearly every game the rest of the way just for them to tie the Canucks. That’s not going to happen.

So we can narrow our list now down to three, ranked in the order of most threatening to the Canucks: the Flames, Blues and Rangers:

Calgary Flames​

The Flames have a 10-point edge on the Canucks and have seven more regulation wins with a game in hand.

Looking at the Flames’ lineup, there aren’t too many more moves they need to make this season. They’ve made their big trade, sending Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights. The only pending UFAs they have are Ryan Lomberg and Jake Bean, who, quite honestly, aren’t going to sink the Flames enough to catch the Canucks.

What would be concerning is if they move on from a pair of forwards with term who have been in the rumours lately: Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman. While Kadri has informed the Flames that he would welcome a trade, he has three more seasons after this year. So there’s no rush in moving him. The same can be said for Coleman, who has one more year remaining; however, the belief is that he will move.

With a double-digit cushion heading into the Olympic break, a lot would have to break in the Flames’ favour for the Canucsk to catch them. However, a midseason Kadri move could make them a more serious threat for the best odds.

St. Louis Blues​

The Blues are the closest to the Canucks in the standings, only seven points ahead, and have seven more regulation wins in the same number of games played.

St. Louis is the team to watch down the stretch before the NHL Trade Deadline, as they seem to have everybody available. That includes Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Brayden Schenn, etc. However, the reported asking prices are through the roof. So, GM Doug Armstrong can claim everybody is available, but when setting realistic asking prices, are they really available?

We’ve done this song and dance for years on Kyrou, yet he still remains a Blue. So, we’ll wait and see what Armstrong does in the limited window he will have following the Olympics. While executives can negotiate trades during the roster freeze, they can’t agree on any until February 23. Will the Blues be a little behind schedule, with their GM focused elsewhere as they try to sell off their pieces at high asking prices?

There just seems to be a lot of noise surrounding the Blues right now, with not much action. And if that’s the case, and they hold onto their guys and get Thomas and Dylan Holloway back, the Blues are only going to get better and move up the standings.

New York Rangers​

The Rangers are serious contenders for the Canucks for the best odds at drafting first overall. Luckily for the Canucks, the Rangers aren’t getting much worse than they are now, and they have eight fewer points than them. However, the Rangers decided to healthy scratch Artemi Panarin while they searched for a trade, and have since completed a deal, sending him to the Los Angeles Kings.

Since Panarin’s scratching, the Rangers have lost all three of their games. So, we already have a sample size of how rock bottom the Rangers can get without their former star winger in the lineup.

One positive for the Canucks when considering the Rangers’ plummeting is that, now that Panarin and Carson Soucy have been traded, they really don’t have much else to move. Looking at their contracts, the Rangers only have Johnny Brodzinski, Conor Sheary (IR) and Jonathan Quick as pending UFAs. Vincent Trocheck, who has three more seasons at $5.625 million per season, and Braeden Schneider, a pending RFA, have had their names thrown out in trade talks. But like the Flames’ situation, there is little urgency to trade those players before the deadline.

Things can all change if either of those two players is traded. But don’t forget, they have their Norris-winning defenceman (Adam Fox) and Vezina-winning netminder (Igor Shesterkin) returning at some point after the Olympic break. The Canucks don’t have the luxury of having those calibre players returning to their lineup, as they already traded Quinn Hughes and shut Thatcher Demko down for the remainder of the season.

Schedule-wise, the Rangers pose a different threat to the Canucks than the Flames or Blues because they play in the Eastern Conference. And by just giving the NHL standings a quick glance, the East is much harder than the West. So the level of competition will be harder for the Rangers down the stretch than some of the bottom feeders of the West, who will battle each other and the Canucks more times this season.

All in all, it’s going to be pretty hard for the Canucks to crawl their way out of the bottom of the barrel of the NHL standings. For our money, considering that the Canucks are still looking to move out some of their players, and the sizable gap between them and the next-worst team in the standings, Vancouver is comfortably in the driver’s seat for the best odds over the other three teams discussed.

However, securing the best odds at first overall is one thing, but that doesn’t guarantee the Canucks will get the right to select one of Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg first overall on draft night. In fact, the Canucks’ most likely pick if they do finish dead last is to pick third overall: 23.6% for first, 19.8% for second and 56.6% for third.

The Canucks have 25 games remaining following the Olympic break. And the race for the best odds at drafting first overall will only intensify as some of these teams get worse down the stretch and switch their focus to future years, as the Canucks have switched to earlier this season.

What do you think, Canucks fans? Who do you believe is the most threatening team to the Canucks for the best odds at selecting first overall? Let us know in the comments below!

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/nhl-dr...ucks-top-threats-land-best-odds-first-overall

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

CA’s top 15 mid-season Canucks prospect rankings: #13 Basile Sansonnens

We continue to push through our 2026 mid-season Vancouver Canucks prospect rankings here at CanucksArmy.

We’re now off to the races, with two ranked prospects already covered. Today, we bring you a defensive defenceman by nature, who’s already stopping men dead in their tracks in the Swiss League.

If you’re looking for a refresher on our ranking criteria, be sure to check out our Honourable Mentions installment before diving in.

Basile Sansonnens​

Team: Lausanne HC (Swiss) | Age: 19 | Position: Defence | Height: 6’4 | Weight: 205 lbs | Shoots: Left | Drafted: Seventh round, 221 overall, 2024 | Summer rank: HM

Considered the biggest climber in our mid-season rankings, 2024 seventh-round pick Basile Sansonnens continues to carry an intriguing profile.

This is not a prospect defined by any flash, highlight reels, or gaudy point totals. Or, any point totals, really. Instead, Sansonnens’ rise is rooted in something far more tangible: his ability to be a physical force and to do so effectively against men.

At just 19 years old, Sansonnens is already holding his own in Switzerland’s top professional league and made a noticeable impact at the U20 World Junior Championship amongst his U20 peers. Although there is still a long way to go to develop the necessary two-way game to be an effective professional, playing amongst men at such a young age separates him from most players drafted in his range.

Although he flashed an eye-catching goal to wow viewers at this year’s World Juniors, offence is unlikely to feature at any point in his professional career. But that’s not the expectation with this profile. What matters is that he carries a heavy, pro-ready frame, plays with assertiveness, and shows a willingness to engage physically at every opportunity. And that physicality is already translating.

Shortly after being drafted by the Canucks, Sansonnens was selected 31st overall in the CHL Import Draft and spent the 2024–25 season with the Rimouski Océanic, where he played a regular role for the Memorial Cup hosts. After one season in the Canadian major junior circuit, he returned home to continue his development against men, stepping directly into a third-pairing role with Lausanne and earning penalty-killing minutes.

Following a strong showing at his second World Junior tournament — where he logged top-four minutes for Switzerland — Sansonnens has recently seen time on Lausanne’s top pairing in his return. His partner? Former Vancouver Canucks defender Erik Brännström. That stint was short-lived, but an interesting development. Despite being one of the youngest regulars in the league, he’s now averaging roughly 12 minutes per night.

Sansonnens was physically dominant at the QMJHL level, and now there are moments where he’s stopping grown professionals dead in their tracks in Switzerland. Of course, the Swiss league is a much different beast than North American professional leagues.

He isn’t flawless, as he can occasionally pull himself out of structure in an effort to separate his man from the puck, but more often than not, the result is still positive. The appeal here is straightforward, and there really isn’t much to think about. Nearly all of his impact comes in the defensive zone, and he’s a defensive defenceman through and through.

In addition, he is rangy, mobile, and assertive. His stride is long and powerful, allowing him to close gaps quickly and recover when plays break down.

If there were even a modest ability to consistently move pucks or generate offence, he’d likely be ranked considerably higher. His physical tools already appear AHL-ready. The question is whether the puck skills and the limits in his game can keep up and allow him to be effective. The hope is that decision-making can be refined enough to earn him opportunities in North America, and he can fall back on being a brute in penalty killing and defensive situations.

For now, he remains raw — but intriguingly so.

Projection​

Ceiling: While still a long shot to become an NHL regular, Sansonnens possesses legitimate shutdown traits. With continued development, he could project as a third-pairing defender who handles penalty-killing duties.

Floor: There is always the reality that he remains in Europe (or ends up returning), carving out a professional career as a shutdown defender in a top league such as the Swiss NL, SHL, or Liiga. For all the physical intrigue comes a very raw ability in his overall two-way game.

ETA: Sansonnens’ physical maturity and mobility give him a chance to accelerate his timeline, but patience remains key. Any NHL consideration is several years away.

That’s our #13 spot. Stay tuned for another installment tomorrow at CanucksArmy.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/ca-top...anucks-prospect-rankings-13-basile-sansonnens

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Olympic Hockey: First look at Canada, Sweden, USA, and more countries’ line combinations

It’s finally here. Best on best men’s hockey at the Olympic level is just a few days away, and today, we got a look at some potential line combinations following multiple teams’ first practices.

Canada Line Combinations​

Connor McDavid lined up between North Vancouver’s Macklin Celebrini and Tom Wilson on Team Canada’s top line, followed by Brad Marchand, Nathan Mackinnon and Nick Suzuki and the third line of Mark Stone, Sidney Crosby, and Mitch Marner. Former Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat centred Canada’s fourth line with North Vancouver’s Sam Reinhart and Brandon Hagel on his wings.

Celebrini-McDavid-Wilson
Marchand-MacKinnon-Suzuki
Stone-Crosby-Marner
Hagel-Horvat-Reinhart

Toews-Makar
Morrissey-Parayko
Theodore-Sanheim

USA Line Combinations​

Team USA’s top line featured the Tkachuk brothers on the wings, centred by Jack Eichel. Quinn Hughes is on the team’s top defensive pairing, partnered with Charlie McAvoy. While JT Miller was listed as an extra forward.

B. Tkachuk-Eichel-M. Tkachuk
Boldy-Matthews-Guentzel
Hughes-Larkin-Thompson
Nelson-Trocheck-Keller

Hughes-McAvoy
Slavin-Faber
Werenski-Hanifin

Sweden Line Combinations​

Team Sweden has Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson as the third line left winger with Mika Zibanejad down the middle and Rickard Rakell on the right wing.

Forsberg-Eriksson Ek-Nylander
Bratt-Lindholm-Raymond
Pettersson-Zibajenad-Rakell
Landeskog-Wennberg-Kempe

Hedman-Dahlin
Forsling-Karlsson
Ekman-Larsson-Andersson

Finland Line Combinations​

Kevin Lankinen seems to be backing Juuse Saros for Team Finland, as expected. Lankinen began the Four Nations tournament last year, backing up Saros before taking on the starter role later on in the tournament.

Granlund-Hintz-Rantanen
Lehkonen-Aho-Teravainen
Luostarinen-Lundell-Kakko
Tolvanen-Haula-Armia

Lindell-Heiskanen
Mikkola-Ristolainen
Maatta-Jokiharju

Czechia Line Combinations​

Czechia has Filip Hronek listed as their top pair right side defencemen, with former NHLer Radim Simek on his left side. David Kampf is listed as the team’s second line centre, with Ondrej Palat and Ondrej Kase as his wingers.

Necas-Hertl-Pastrnak
Palat-Kampf-Kase
Cervenka-Sedlak-Tomasek
Stransky-Faksa-Kubalik

Simek-Hronek
Kempny-Gudas
Spacek-Rutta

Latvia Line Combinations​

Team Latvia has Teddy Blueger listed as the team’s top line centreman with Zemgus Girgensons and Sandis Vilmanis on the wing. Arturs Silovs appears to be backing up Elvis Merzlinkins, and Abbotsford Canucks forward Anri Ravinskis is listed on the team’s third line.

Vilmanis-Blueger-Girgensons
Tralmaks-Locmelis-Dzierkals
Ravinskis-Krastenbergs-Daugavins
Balcers-Batna-Bukarts

Balinskis-Rubins
Smits-Freibergs
Zile-Jaks

The other final Canucks, Lukas Reichel, appears to be on Germany’s second line, playing the wing with Nico Sturm at centre and Josh Samanski on the other wing.

The men’s tournament’s first game is scheduled for February 11, at 7:40 AM PST, in a matchup between Finland and Slovakia.

Team Canada’s first game is on February 12, at 7:40 AM PST against Czechia.

All line combos courtesy of Puck Pedia.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/olympi...a-sweden-usa-more-countries-line-combinations

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Is there a scenario in which the Canucks don’t trade any of their pending UFAs?

Rebuilds tend to be times of great uncertainty in the life cycle of a hockey team. That said, as the Vancouver Canucks have slowly but surely transitioned into a rebuild all their own, some things have been taken as absolute certainties, and chief among them has been the fact that the team is going to trade its trio of healthy pending UFAs in Evander Kane, Teddy Blueger, and David Kampf.

But the closer we’ve gotten to the March 9 NHL Trade Deadline, the more uncertainty has crept in, even on this topic. At this point, we’re within the three-week Olympic Roster Freeze, and when it lifts on February 22, there will be just a scant two weeks left until the deadline. That’s not an exceptionally large window within which to get business done, and so it’s at least somewhat reasonable to worry that the Canucks might be left holding the bag, so to speak.

There are also some related worries abound, brought on by the number of times in which the Canucks have held on to UFAs they probably shouldn’t, only to watch them walk away for nothing at the end of the season.

So, the question we gather here to answer today is this: is there a realistic scenario in which the Canucks don’t trade any of their pending 2026 UFAs?

Fortunately, we won’t make you read too much further before finding out we think the answer is mostly ‘no.’

The key difference between this situation and the situations that have arisen around UFAs and the deadline in past seasons is that these current Canucks have essentially no reason to hang on to any of their pending free agents and all too many reasons to move them along.

It may be more reasonable to worry about the quality of the potential returns at this point. Kane is thought to be worth about a third round pick, possibly with retention. It’s possible that as the deadline approaches and with more teams now dropping out of the race and potentially selling, offers for Kane start to dwindle. Maybe, instead of a third, all the Canucks can get back is the same fourth round pick they paid for Kane in the first place.

Maybe Blueger only brings back a fourth of his own, despite a dry centre market. Maybe Kampf hasn’t done enough in a Vancouver jersey to bring back anything more than a fifth or sixth.

Even in those sorts of scenarios, we still think it’s most prudent for the Canucks to take what they can get, and we still think that’s what they will do.

Those picks carry value, and that value is not insignificant to a franchise in the position the Canucks are in. They’ve made a habit of bleeding draft picks through the Benning Era and into the Allvin Regime, and have only very recently committed to cutting that out. Every little bit of future-based asset counts here, even the fourths and fifths.

But those returns are really only a secondary consideration here. The far more important consideration is getting these players out of the way.

Kane is still averaging about 17 minutes a night. Blueger is at 16:16. Kampf has been a healthy scratch at times lately, but when in the lineup, he’s still averaging 15:14 a game.

Those are minutes that could be going to younger players. Those are minutes that, if building for the long-term is the goal, probably should be going to younger players. But they’re minutes that will continue to go to the vets as long as they’re still here.

Adam Foote is obviously a coach who favours experience over youth. That much is obvious after a half-season with him at the helm. The team has apparently committed to keeping him around for at least the duration of 2025-26. Management has to know that, if Kane stays past the deadline, he’s going to continue to play over the likes of Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Liam Öhgren. They have to know that, if Blueger stays, he’s going to continue to take shifts and faceoffs away from Aatu Räty.

The remainder of the 2025-26 season should be all about acquiring more future-based assets and continuing to develop the ones already on hand. Keeping veterans that you just know Foote is going to over-play is directly counterproductive to this goal.

It might have made sense in those past seasons where the Canucks were still lying to themselves about just getting into the playoffs so “anything can happen.” These Canucks are so far out of it, they cannot even pretend to still be chasing.

Blueger is a great example of a reliable veteran who does all the little things right out there on the ice. But getting some of the little things wrong, and growing through the experience, is kind of the point right now. The Canucks need to use the opportunity of the lost 2025-26 campaign to spend its back-half developing in a low-stakes environment, and folks like Blueger don’t have much development left to do – but could get in the way of development yet to be had for others.

We can almost get ourselves to a point where retaining and then re-signing Blueger, specifically, makes sense. He’s everything one might want in a steady veteran, and his specific array of talents – faceoffs, penalty killing, timely scoring – are ideal for any bottom-six. Blueger has been a great insulator for the youth since returning to the lineup, and could continue to be so into next season, at least. Why not consider keeping him around?

It’s as simple as that Blueger would have to be given a centre job on next year’s roster, and those jobs are already set to be competed over between all of Elias Pettersson, Marco Rossi, Braeden Cootes, Aatu Räty, Max Sasson, and maybe more, depending on who the Canucks draft and trade for. You can’t keep a player like Blueger without blocking someone younger from moving up the chart at this point. It’s an either-or.

Never mind the fact that, if the Canucks really want to increase their input of picks and prospects, they’re probably going to have to take on some cap dumps, either now or in the seasons to come. Those cap dumps are already going to ‘get in the way’ of prospects to some extent, and roster-crowding is something that has already become a point of frustration this year. Clearing out the UFAs now helps to create space to be filled by these dumps, and it also prevents the youth movement from getting pushed out even further when they arrive.

If it comes down to it, it’s always going to be easier to sit someone acquired as a cap dump in the pressbox, as opposed to someone who has been kept around intentionally and made part of the team’s leadership group.

And so, we think that whatever best offer the Canucks get on any of these players will eventually be taken. We don’t think we’re going to see any scenarios like in years’ past, where management is too prideful to take what amounts to a low-ball offer and spitefully hangs on to a UFA. There’s just no real reason to, and all too many reasons not to. This time, if the offers aren’t up to snuff, we believe the Canucks will still take what they can get. In a sense, they already did this once, in accepting two second round picks back for Kiefer Sherwood instead of digging in their heels on a first.

We’re not, by the way, guaranteeing or even suggesting that the offers they receive will be low-balls. There is still more than a month of negotiating time left, and then a two-week trade window within which to actually get those transactions done.

All we’re really saying is that, even if the offers are underwhelming, the Canucks faithful don’t have to worry about trades not being made. Nothing is ever absolutely certain in hockey, but we’re pretty certain Kane, Blueger, and Kampf will eventually be moved for something, and that the Canucks will be better off in the long-term for having done so, regardless of the return.

We know that’s not how it’s played out in the past, but this is a new era, and things are going to have to play out differently this time around.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/nhl-trade-rumours-scenario-vancouver-canucks-dont-trade-pending-ufas

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

CA’s top 15 Canucks mid-season prospect rankings: #12 Gabriel Chiarot

We continue our 2026 mid-season Vancouver Canucks prospect rankings with one of the organization’s more straightforward projections. If you’re looking for a high-motor winger whose value comes from pace, work ethic, and competitiveness rather than from pure offence, this may be your guy.

Be sure to check out our Honourable Mentions installment if you’re looking for a refresher on our ranking criteria.

Gabriel Chiarot​

Team: Kitchener Rangers (OHL) | Age: 19 | Position: Right Wing| Height: 5’11 | Weight: 190 lbs | Shoots: Right | Drafted: Sixth round, 175 overall, 2025 | Summer rank: HM

Gabriel Chiarot plays the game like a prototypical third-line grinder.

The offensive profile is modest and unlikely to be highly projectable as a high-pedigree producer. What is translatable, however, is the way he plays and the attitude he brings toward the game. Chiarot brings an honest, abrasive style that keeps him involved even when the puck isn’t finding him. It’s the type of game that can influence the game in many more ways than his numbers may suggest.

After showing encouraging early-season production with the Brampton Steelheads, a trade-deadline move to the Kitchener Rangers has hindered his overall point totals. Even with the dip, Chiarot remains on pace to set new career highs, sitting at 30 points through 47 games in his third OHL season.

It’s not as if he doesn’t bring tangible skills that could carry to the next level. He skates well, carries decent straight-line speed, and possesses a heavy release that can beat goaltenders clean when he finds space. Even better, the majority of his offence comes from high-danger areas. Just by a quick glance at his shot map, it’s clear where he’s getting the majority of his chances from, and they aren’t from the perimeter.

Photo’s courtesy of InStat.

And clearly, the Vancouver Canucks’ brass saw something in him early.

Although a later-round pick, Chiarot earned himself an entry-level contract coming out of his first NHL training camp. That’s not something that happens by accident. It speaks directly to the traits that are difficult to teach: competitiveness and a willingness to play through contact. A cousin of NHL veteran Ben Chiarot, Gabe’s game is built on work ethic and a confrontational style of play. If there’s a puck battle to be won, he’s usually involved. Along the boards, in the corners, or at the net front, he consistently puts his body in uncomfortable areas to make something happen.

It’s often the case that lower-skilled prospects have to find inventive ways to remain relevant as they move into the professional ranks. Sometimes, you just need a little sandpaper, and it’s profiles like Chiarots which make it easier to place long-term bets. Late-bloomer players such as Kiefer Sherwood come to mind.

But obviously, we are talking about a sixth-round pick, and the production question remains unavoidable. Chiarot is now more than 160 games into his OHL career and sits under half a point per game. While he’s likely to reach new highs this season, you want to see a bit more output from a player who has been trusted with top-six minutes and leadership responsibility already in his third campaign in major junior.

But what keeps him firmly inside our rankings is the reliability of his “B game.” Even on nights when the offence isn’t there, Chiarot finds ways to contribute through energy, physicality, penalty killing and pressure. That kind of player often survives roster churn because coaches know exactly what they’re getting.

Projection​

Ceiling: Chiarot’s ceiling is an NHL third-line energy winger who can contribute on the penalty kill and provide physicality and secondary scoring.

Floor: A dependable AHL role player who brings leadership, effort, and matchup utility.

ETA: Having him sign this early in his Canucks tenure is interesting. Although he has one more year of OHL eligibility, we wonder whether that will prompt them to fast-track his progression and see what he has at the American League level sooner rather than later. The NCAA route is no longer an option, so it’s OHL or AHL. Given that he will be 20 by December 31st, the option to play in Abbotsford is there. Either way, we don’t expect him to be a factor in Vancouver Canucks conversations until the 2027-28 season (at minimum), regardless.

That’s our #12 spot. Stay tuned for another installment tomorrow right here at CanucksArmy.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/cas-to...d-season-prospect-rankings-12-gabriel-chiarot

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Diving into Men’s Olympic Hockey line combinations: Canucks Conversation

On today’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal took a closer look at the men’s Olympic hockey lineups, with a particular focus on the Canucks players expected to contribute for their respective countries and how those teams stack up heading into the tournament.

The conversation started with Team Sweden and what the Swedes realistically need from Elias Pettersson. Harm tempered expectations around Pettersson being a true offensive driver.

“My expectations aren’t super high for him to be an offensive game-breaker because we haven’t seen him reach that next offensive level,” Harm said. “He’ll have better linemates at this tournament, so that’s a reason to be a little optimistic and think he can chip in offensively. But if we’re being honest, this Sweden team isn’t relying on Elias Pettersson to do a lot of offensive damage. If he can sprinkle in some points, that’s a bonus. You’re expecting him to be responsible at both ends of the ice and stout defensively.”

That’s largely because Sweden’s offensive identity runs through its wings.

“They’re going to rely on their dynamic wingers to do most of the heavy lifting offensively – Nylander, Forsberg, Bratt, Raymond, Kempe,” Harm said. “They’ve got a really talented pool there. It really sucks the Swedes don’t have Leo Carlsson available. That would’ve given them a legitimate 1C. When you take him out during this breakout season of his, they look thin down the middle. It’s similar to what we said ahead of 4 Nations – you love their wingers, but they’re thin at centre.”

From there, the discussion shifted to Team Czechia, where Filip Hronek figures to play an enormous role. Quads didn’t mince words when projecting Hronek’s workload.

“You can call Filip Hronek the Czech Cale Makar for this tournament,” Quads said. “He’s going to play an ungodly amount of time. First penalty kill, first – and maybe only – power play guy. You’re going to see him a lot.”

Quads sees a legitimate medal path for Czechia if things break right.

“This team has some real firepower up top, plus sneaky-good goaltending with Lukáš Dostál,” he said. “They could absolutely win a bronze medal.”

Harm agreed on the strength at the top of the lineup, starting with one of the NHL’s most consistent scorers.

“When you have David Pastrnak, who might be the most underappreciated superstar in the league – three straight seasons of 40 goals and 100 points – that top line is as good as you’ll find in this tournament,” Harm said. “The issue is what comes after that. The lack of depth is where they’re at a significant disadvantage compared to the other European teams we expect to be in medal contention.”

Team Finland brought the conversation back to the crease, with a Canucks-specific angle. Quads zeroed in on Kevin Lankinen’s potential role.

“The big question for Finland, from a Canucks perspective, is how many games Lankinen gets and whether he can outplay Juuse Saros,” Quads said. “He was arguably the better goalie at the 4 Nations tournament, so we’ll see.”

Harm highlighted a key difference between Finland and the 4 Nations tournament last February.

“They’re finally going to be able to ice Miro Heiskanen,” Harm said. “He’ll play close to 30 minutes a night, and alongside Lundell – who he has great chemistry with being teammates in Dallas – that helps everyone else slot into more reasonable roles.”

While the blue line still isn’t elite, it’s no longer a glaring weakness.

“It’s not as much of an Achilles heel as it was during 4 Nations,” Harm said. “But if you’re Finland, you’re really hoping you don’t have to turn to Lankinen too much. His recent play hasn’t inspired a ton of confidence. Of course, this team would be a lot better defensively than what the Canucks have put in front of him, but I’d still be riding Saros through the highs and lows.”

Up front, Finland lacks star power but makes up for it in habits.

“They don’t have a ton of game-breaking talent,” Harm said. “But every forward is committed defensively and can play a shutdown role.”

Finally, the guys wrapped up with Team Latvia, where Teddy Blueger figures to be leaned on heavily. Quads noted Blueger’s importance right away.

“Blueger is going to be in the top six, playing a lot of minutes, with Silovs in net,” Quads said. “We’ve talked about some solid teams here – I’m not sure how Latvia will fare. But, they’re always fun to watch. They’ll try to lock teams down, keep shots to the outside. We know Teddy Blueger has a ton of heart.”

Expectations are modest, but the door isn’t fully closed.

“I don’t think anyone expects them to medal, Harm chimed in. “But they could scare a few teams, maybe pull off an upset – it’d take the game of their lives, though.”

You can watch the full segment below:

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/diving...e-combinations-vancouver-canucks-conversation

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Olympic Hockey Preview: Canucks’ Pettersson and Lankinen lead off 2026 Men’s Olympic Hockey Tournament

Well, Vancouver Canucks fans, we’ve finally made it: NHL players are officially back in the Olympics.

And even more exciting for Vancouver fans, they get to watch a pair of Canucks on opening day. Let’s not wait any longer.

Slovakia vs. Finland​

Start time and info

Coverage for Team Slovakia vs. Team Finland kicks off on February 11 at 7:40 AM PST / 4:40 PM local from Milano Santagiulia IHO. Viewers can watch on CBC, Bell Media (TSN) and Rogers Media (Sportsnet).

Projected lines

Here are the projected lines for tomorrow’s games, provided by Daily Faceoff.

Team Slovakia

Team Finland

Starting goalies

Juuse Saros starts for the Finns. He earned the start at the 4 Nations Faceoff one year ago, but wound up splitting the net with the Canucks’ Kevin Lankinen.

The Slovaks have yet to announce a starter. Expect one of Adam Gajan (21-year-old Chicago Blackhawks prospect) or Samuel Hlavaj (24-year-old goaltender for the Iowa Wild)

Players to watch

Simon Nemec: It’s been a good season for Simon Nemec, but there could be more to prove for the 21-year-old defenceman. Drafted second overall in 2022, Nemec hasn’t been able to develop into a top-pairing defenceman while playing behind the likes of Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes. However, he will now be expected to be the top defenceman, playing important ice time for his country. He’ll be one to watch to see if he can handle that elevated role on the world’s biggest stage.

Mikael Granlund: Playing on a line with Mikko Rantanen, Granlund is really going to have to excel offensively if he’s going to stand out. However, Granlund was arguably the Finns’ best player at last year’s 4 Nations Face-off, finishing the tournament with three goals and four points, including the overtime winner against the Swedes in Game 2 of the Round Robin. We’ll see if he can continue that dominance, now playing in a clear offensive role, with two former Dallas Stars teammates in Rantanen and Roope Hintz.

Sweden vs. Italy​

Start time and info

Coverage for Team Sweden vs. Team Italy kicks off on February 11 at 12:10 PM PST / 9:10 PM local from Milano Santagiulia IHO. Viewers can watch on CBC, Bell Media (TSN) and Rogers Media (Sportsnet).

Projected lines

Here are the projected lines for tomorrow’s games, provided by Daily Faceoff.

Team Sweden

William Nylander (groin) is considered a game-time decision for this contest.

Team Italy

Starting goalies

At the time of this writing, neither team has confirmed a starting goaltender. Daily Faceoff projects Filip Gustavsson (Minnesota Wild starting goaltender) and Damian Clara (21-year-old Anaheim Ducks prospect).

Players to watch

Elias Pettersson: Now, Elias Pettersson wouldn’t be the one to watch in many markets. But in Vancouver? He absolutely is. After a disappointing 4 Nations, Pettersson has something to prove at this tournament. Starting as the team’s number one centre heading into the last tournament with Sweden, he was quickly dropped to the bottom six and finished the final game playing sub-10 minutes. Those struggles have followed him into this season, so we’ll see if Pettersson can pick apart a weaker opponent and spark a resurgence.

Damian Clara: Although we aren’t sure whether he will get the start tomorrow, Damian Clara is someone to watch closely on an Italian team that isn’t rich with talent, because he is the only Italian-born player on the team that was ever drafted to the NHL – in the second round, 60th overall, to boot. He’s just a young kid, but as the clear best player on the team, and going up against one of the tournament favourites, he should be a busy guy in front of his country.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/olympi...-lead-off-2026-mens-olympic-hockey-tournament

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Abbotsford Canucks’ Ben Berard steals the show at the 2026 AHL All-Star Skills Competition

Ben Berard stole the show at the AHL All-Star game with one of the nicest goals you will see in any scenario.

Taking the spot of Kirill Kudryavtsev, who was sidelined by a high ankle sprain, Berard stepped in to represent the Abbotsford Canucks at the AHL All-Star Challenge — and he made sure the opportunity didn’t go quietly.

Taking part in the Upper Deck Breakaway Relay, Berard went one-on-one against Pittsburgh Penguins goaltending prospect Sergei Murashov. Gliding in with confidence, the Duncan, BC native opened his stance, scooped the puck, and lofted it perfectly into the top corner. The move set off the crowd, his teammates, and even the broadcast crew covering the event.

THE HANDS FROM BEN BERARD OH MY GOODNESS@abbycanucks | #AHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/cWz4Zvwed9

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) February 11, 2026

It was Berard’s second appearance of the evening, having also competed in the Inglasco Puck Control Relay to open the event. But it was the breakaway finish that stole the spotlight.

Event #1 for Ben: The Inglasco Puck Control Relay!

His hat stayed on so that's a big win! pic.twitter.com/fJC9DSb1D0

— Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks) February 11, 2026

The Eastern Conference held on for a tight victory on the night, defeating the Western Conference 18-15.

Signed to an AHL contract, Berard has quietly been a key contributor for Abbotsford this season. He currently co-leads the club with 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in 45 games, providing consistent offensive production as the team has undergone substantial changes, including 2024-25 player exits, injuries, and promotions to Vancouver.

“It’s definitely an honour to represent the whole team and the guys in there,” Berard said afterward, reflecting on the experience before departing for Rockford, Illinois, for the All-Star Challenge. With his appearance, Berard became the fifth player in franchise history to represent Abbotsford at the AHL All-Star Classic and just the second from British Columbia.

Last season, defenceman Elias Pettersson earned All-Star honours but did not attend due to his recall to Vancouver, with Ty Mueller stepping in as a replacement. Forward Arshdeep Bains represented the club in 2024, while Christian Wolanin was the franchise’s inaugural All-Star in 2023.

Next up, it’s the All-Star Challenge at the BMO Harris Bank Center, home of the Rockford IceHogs, on Wednesday, February 11. The four divisions – Pacific, North, Atlantic, Central – will compete in eight-minute 3-on-3 games, with the top two teams advancing to the championship round.

Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/abbots...als-show-2026-ahl-all-star-skills-competition

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Olympic Hockey Preview: Canucks’ Hronek, Kämpf, and Czechia battle Canada; Blueger and Latvia vs. USA

After what’s been a disastrous season for the Vancouver Canucks, their Canadian fans are exceptionally excited to watch tomorrow when Team Canada hits the ice.

Usually actively rooting against the likes of the Connor McDavid’s and Brad Marchand’s of the world, now, they’re on our team. And they kick off their tournament against a pair of Canucks and Team Czechia.

Czechia vs. Canada​

Start time and info

Coverage for Team Czechia vs. Team Canada kicks off on February 12 at 7:40 AM PST / 4:40 PM local from Milano Santagiulia IHO. Viewers can watch on CBC, Bell Media (TSN) and Rogers Media (Sportsnet).

Projected lines

Here are the projected lines for tomorrow’s games, provided by Daily Faceoff.

Team Czechia

Team Canada

Starting goalies

Team Czechia has not named a starter for this match. Either Lukas Dostal or Karel Vejmelka will get the nod.

Team Canada did not name a starter. However, NHL.com’s Dan Rosen shared that Jordan Binnington had his own net at practice while Logan Thompson and Darcy Kuemper shared the other.

Players to watch

Filip Hronek: The Canuck who will likely play the most pivotal role for their team during these Olympics, Hronek has the opportunity to show off on the biggest stage against a tricky opponent in Team Canada. Luckily, he’s used to playing heavy minutes in Vancouver, because he should get the same treatment for this team, as he stands out as by far the best defensive option for this Czech team.

Macklin Celebrini: The 19-year-old who shockingly played his way onto a stacked Team Canada with his MVP-calibre season, Celebrini gets an opportunity to play top-line minutes with McDavid. That’s a substantial honour on this team to receive this heavy of a deployment in his first Olympic Games. What will be most intriguing to watch is how he meshes with McDavid. At the 4 Nations last year, it took some time, but he finally found something with Brayden Point. Unfortunately, Point is out for the tournament, so can Celebrini be the perfect match for McDavid? Hopefully, we’ll find out against the Czechs.

Latvia vs. USA​

Start time and info

Coverage for Team Latvia vs. Team USA kicks off on February 12 at 12:10 PM PST / 9:10 PM local from Milano Santagiulia IHO. Viewers can watch on CBC, Bell Media (TSN) and Rogers Media (Sportsnet).

Projected lines

Here are the projected lines for tomorrow’s games, provided by Daily Faceoff.

Team Latvia

Team USA

Starting goalies

Team Latvia has not named a starter for this contest. Either Arturs Silovs or Elvis Merzlikins will get the start.

Team USA Head Coach Mike Sullivan confirmed with the media that he would wait until the morning of the game to announce his starting goalie. However, considering Connor Hellebuyck started all three of the games that mattered – Jake Oettinger started against Sweden, after the Canadian’s win ensured it would be a Canada/USA final – we would project Hellebuyck gets the nod.

Players to watch

Alberts Smits: Canucks fans will have one eye on Teddy Blueger, no doubt, but it’s looking more and more likely that he will be on his way come the trade deadline. And with the future in mind, projected top pick for the 2026 NHL Draft, Alberts Smits, will be of interest to most. After turning heads at the U20 World Junior Championships with one goal and five points in five games, Smits has an even bigger opportunity to elevate his draft stock on the Olympic stage.

Quinn Hughes: Vancouverites were robbed of watching Hughes in a best-on-best tournament at the 4 Nations last year. But he’s healthy and ready to show the world how good he is. A little surprising to see him split up with his Minnesota Wild defence partner, Brock Faber, but he will enjoy top-pairing minutes and top power play time with the likes of Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Matthew Tkachuk and Tage Thompson.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/olympi...ampf-czechia-battle-canada-blueger-latvia-usa

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

WDYTT: How are you spending your weeks without Canucks hockey?

Welcome back to WDYTT, the only hockey column built directly on personal appeal.

Speaking of personal, let’s get personal. With the Vancouver Canucks off the television for the next several weeks – or, most of the Canucks, that is – this is the perfect opportunity to get to know our readers outside of the context that typically brings us together.

We assume that if you’re a regular reader of this site, then watching Canucks games is also a part of your weekly routine. But now, there’s no Canuck hockey on until February 25. What else are we going to do with our time?

For many, it will be an easy transition from watching the Canucks to watching the various events at the Olympic Games. Others will take the opportunity to get away from the television entirely. Some will fall somewhere in between. Heck, a few of you may have even discovered a new hobby already!

We also have to imagine there’s a not-insignificant contingent of you that are simply grateful for a break from this ongoing 2025-26 campaign.

Whatever it is that you are doing to fill the Canucks-shaped void in your life right now, we want to hear about it. One, because you matter to us, and it’s always nice to get to know you better. But two, because it’s actually a fine way to track the general importance of Canucks hockey in all our lives, by measuring the impact of its absence.

They say, “We Are All Canucks.” Well, for the next couple of weeks, we are all in need of something to fill our time. What’s it going to be?

This week, we’re asking:

How will you fill the time that would otherwise be occupied by Canucks hockey during the Olympic Break?​

Let it be known in the comment section, and we’ll be back with a more hockey-related question next week.

Last week, we asked:

Which current Canuck property will be the best NHLer in five years? ​

You answered below!

JCanuck:

Zeev.

Reubenkincade:

Not sure any of this group will even be on the team in five years., but I will go with Zeev, as at worst, he should be able to hold down a PP specialist job.

burnabybob:

I hope that it’s Cootes. More likely Buium.

Jibsys:

(Winner of the author’s weekly award for eloquence)

Since the Canucks’ first round draft pick this season has not materialized into a real person yet, I am going with one of the rookie defenders, and for me it is the player wearing Garth Butcher’s old number five, Tom Willander.

Like all rookies, we have seen some mistakes from him this season, but not very many. I have been impressed by his ability to stickhandle his way out of traffic and to move the puck very efficiently through the neutral zone. More importantly, he is a defender, so he has to defend, which he seems to do pretty well. The kid has a high hockey IQ, so I think he will be very successful.

Faceit:

Öhgren.

nickmac89:

I feel like the best player (that’s already in the system) will be Willander, but I hope Cootes will be an important part of the team as well.

defenceman factory:

Willander or Buium seem like good bets.

Far-fetched, but wouldn’t it be something if it turned out to be Alriksson?

RDster:

It appears that this team traded Quinn Hughes straight-up for Liam Öhgren, so it had better be Liam Öhgren, but no pressure …

Gamblor:

It should be Zeev or Cootes, otherwise we are still in hockey purgatory.

Code Eagle:

Same as it is today. Hronek.

Seriously, though, I will go with Buium. Lots of raw talent to work with.

bill nazzy:

Buium, Willander, Cootes, Öhgren, Lekkerimäki, D-Petey, Mancini, Patterson, and this year’s top-three should all be main keys to the next core within five years, likely sooner… out of those, though, I’ll guess this year’s first will have the most NHL impact.

spiel:

Petey. But, he might not be on the Canucks.

Appleboy:

Räty will be a beast.

Hockey Bunker:

If it is any of the current crop, the team is doomed, unless it is Tolopilo.

BigBA:
Buium will be our best player in five years, followed by Verhoeff and our new top-six C.

Alex h:

Best Canuck in five years? One of Öhgren, Buium, or Cootes. I’m going to Buium, with the highest ceiling. If his brain + offensive game fully translates, he could be the most impactful.

RagnarokOroboros:

I’ll say Tom Willander will be the best player from the current prospect pool.

He shows maturity on the ice and seems to be developing very well right now.

He has the demeanor of a future captain.

lebowski52:

Öhgren shows the most promise amongst the forwards. However, the Canucks would have to hope the first draft pick this year develops into their best NHLer. We haven’t seen anything of him yet, but goaltender Medvedev should be in that conversation. But in the meantime, with so much uncertainty in goal, the Canucks need to trade for Jesper Wallstedt to make him our best NHLer.

Hockey Fan in Mexico:

If I am going defensemen, then it is Zeev for sure. If I am going forward, then I am going for who ever is picked in the top-five this year. A sad testimony to trading away multiple draft picks and still cup-less with no true top-end forward talent in the pipeline. Too much hope and not enough skill.

Agent86Fan:

I don’t know, but chances are he won’t be playing for the Canucks.

Kiwi Canuck:

Those likely to be here in five years on a rebuilding team is a short list, but the crop to choose from would include Cootes, Patterson, Romani, Alriksson, Öhgren, Buium, Willander, EP25, Alcos, and Medvedev. I don’t think Lekkerimäki will make it.

Picking the “best” of these would depend on what metrics were used to define what is the best NHLer. If you were to use goals scored, then Öhgren has the best chance. If it’s points, then Buium or Willander will compete for the title. If leadership was the metric, then Cootes gets it, followed by Buium, Willander, and Öhgren. If number of games played is your definition, then it’s probably Cootes (assuming they all start at the same time). If it’s the most all-round impact, then I’d say Öhgren, as he’s looking like a scorer that does PP and PK, followed closely by Cootes.

So, the winner of this title in my eyes is Cootes…the soon to be our Bo Horvat replacement. Öhgren a close second and Buium third.

Brouxby:

I’m gonna say Zeev Buium. Over the summer, lots of the prospect rankings I listened to had him pretty high up, and if he can polish his game a bit, we have a top-two d-man in him.

Fozzy Bear:

For me, I really like Karlsson’s game, and think while he may not put up the most points, he may turn into a Matt Cullen / Nick Foligno type that is just consistent throughout his career. Never too low and never too high, but plays a reliable hard-working style that really sets him up in my mind as a possible captain going forward.

Richard Hickey:

While Buium is the favorite choice between Willander and Buium, I just really love Willander. I worry about Buium’s defense.

Here’s a hot take. EP40 is easily the team’s best player today, followed by Hronek. I think he will still be the team’s best player in 2031, of the players currently Canuck assets.

I am not a fan of him and hate to say it, but there it is.

Craig Gowan:

I see potential in Willander, Buium, Öhgren, and EP25. I would say Öhgren and Willander look most ready to be effective regular NHL players. Buium and EP25 need to learn how to play defence at the NHL level. Cootes is an unknown and may be a good NHL player one day. It seems to me Willander or Buium – if he can tighten his defensive game – will be best player from the current roster in five years. He’s not on the current roster, so doesn’t count, but I think it’s likely the 2026 draft choice at the top of the draft (probably top-three) will be the Canucks’ best player in five years.

Voice of Reason:

In five years? Likely either Buium or the player they take in the top-three this year. Darkhorse is EP40, who would only be 32 at that stage. Henrik Sedin had his best two years of a HHOF career at 30 and 31.

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Source: https://canucksarmy.com/news/wdytt-how-spending-weeks-without-vancouver-canucks-hockey