Vancouver Canucks News

The Canucks are winless in three games this season and will turn to Lankinen between the pipes on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Despite losing 3-2 in a shootout, Lankinen was stellar, the best goaltending performance this season for the Canucks, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935 SV%). The Canucks enter the action on Thursday as slight -106 road favorites against a Panthers club without their two biggest offensive threats, Matthew Tkachuk (illness) and Aleksander Barkov (lower body).

Nick Leddy is battling a lower-body injury and will not play on Thursday, allowing Joseph to re-enter the lineup. In his only game this season, Joseph recorded a -1 plus/minus in 12:39 time-on-ice.

Erik Brannstrom has been recalled from Abbottsford (AHL) and will draw into the Canucks' lineup as Forbort's replacement. In three games this season, the 32-year-old Forbort has one point (0G / 1A), five blocks, and one hit.

Raty played the first three games of the season for the Canucks, tallying one assist, but has been sent down to the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL). The 21-year-old Raty spent most of the 2023-24 season with Abbotsford in the AHL, scoring an impressive 52 points (18G / 34A) in 72 games.

Daniel Sprong will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Bains to make his season debut. The 23-year-old Bains spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL), tallying an impressive 55 points (16G / 39A) in 59 games and could be in line for a more prominent role in the NHL this season.

With Joel Eriksson Ek (broken nose) not travelling on Sunday, Liam Ohgren will make his season debut vs. Winnipeg. The 20-year-old left-winger made his NHL debut last season but only appeared in four games, picking up a goal and an assist while averaging 14:31 TOI/GP.

Thompson will take Macklin Celebrini's spot on the Sharks roster after he was moved to IR. The 22-year-old defenseman appeared in two NHL games with the Sharks last year, but spent most of the season in the AHL, where he had nine points (1G / 8A) in 16 games.

Joseph will make his Blues debut in Vegas on Friday after sitting out the first two games of the season. The 25-year-old blue-liner spent the first four seasons of his career in Pittsburgh, totaling eight goals and 29 assists across 147 regular season games.

Aman drew into the Canucks lineup for the first game of the season as a replace for Pius Suter, who was battling an upper-body injury. The 24-year-old Aman played 12:13 time-on-ice, recording a -1 plus/minus.

With Thatcher Demko likely sidelined for the next several weeks, the Canucks will rotate between Lankinen and Artus Silovs in the crease. Silovs started the season opener for the Canucks, a 6-5 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames, and will serve as the backup to Lankinen for their second game on Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 29-year-old Lankinen was serviceable as the Nashville Predators' backup goalie last season, posting a 2.82 GAA and .908 SV% in 24 outings (11-6-0). The Canucks enter action on Friday as -167 home favorites over the Flyers.

Bains made his NHL debut last season, being held without a point in eight games for the Canucks. The 23-year-old Bains spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL), tallying an impressive 55 points (16G / 39A) in 59 games and could be in line for a more prominent role in the NHL this season.

Patera has had a whirlwind offseason, signing with the Canucks at the beginning of July, being claimed on waivers by the Boston Bruins last week, and ultimately rejoining the Canucks after being claimed from waivers on Monday. Patera had a 1-3-1 record, a 3.98 GAA, and a .893 SV% in six games with the Vegas Golden Knights last season.

Demko is still several weeks away from ramping things up, but with tenuous uncertainty surrounding his injury, this is positive news for Demko and the Canucks. The 28-year-old Demko was tremendous for the Canucks last season, posting a career-best 2.45 GAA and .918 SV% in 51 games (35-14-2). In the interim, the Canucks are rolling with Arturs Silovs and Kevin Lankinen between the pipes.

Höglander is coming off his first full season with the Canucks and has been rewarded with a three-year contract extension after scoring 36 points (24G / 12A) in 80 games. In addition, Höglander was tied for second amongst all Canucks' forward with a +23 plus/minus. The 23-year-old Swede is projected to play alongside Aatu Raty and Conor Garland on the third line.

With Jeremy Swayman's contract talks looming, Boston claimed Jiri Patera off of waivers from Vancouver on Wednesday. The 25-year-old goaltender signed a two-year, two-way contract with Vancouver in July but was swiftly claimed by Boston. In six games with Vegas in 2023-24, he had a 1-3-1 record, a 3.98 GAA and a .893 SV%.

Alriksson was Vancouver's 2023 4th-round pick (107th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canucks on Sunday. The 19-year-old Swedish forward is entering his second season with Guelph (OHL) after a strong rookie campaign in 2023-24 which saw him put up 17 goals, 33 points and 35 PIMs in 67 games played. He will return to the Storm for his sophomore season in 2024-25.