Vancouver Canucks News

After 14 seasons in Montreal, Brandan Gallagher has had his wish fulfilled and has been moved to Vancouver (50% salary retention) from Montreal for future considerations on Monday. The 34-year-old scrappy forward was a healthy scratch for the majority of the 2025-26 Stanley Cup Playoffs and will look for a new start in Vancouver after just seven goals, 23 points and 39 PIMs in 77 games last season.

After a succesful second half of the season in Abbotsford (AHL), Cole Clayton has signed a one-year, two-way extension to remain with the Canucks organization. The 26-year-old defensemen has yet to appear in the NHL but has five impressive AHL seasons under his belt. In 65 games played in 2025-26 with both Cleveland and Abbotsford, he had two goals, 11 points and 48 PIMs.

Joe Veleno will draw into Montreal's lineup for Game One against the Buffalo Sabres, sending Gallagher to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 34-year-old Gallagher made his 2025-26 postseason debut in Game Four against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He is averaging 6:25 time-on-ice and has one goal through three games in the playoffs.

Oliver Kapanen will be a healthy scratch in Game Five, allowing Gallagher to draw into the lineup for his postseason debut. The 33-year-old Gallagher averaged 12:21 time-on-ice and scored 23 points (7G / 16A) in 77 games this season. He has 33 points (13G / 20A) in 76 career playoff games.

The Canucks will finish the 2025-26 season in last place, but will try to end on a high note, turning to Lankinen to tend the twine against the Edmonton Oilers. The 30-year-old Finnish goalie was solid in his previous outing, saving 31 of 34 shots (.912 SV%) in a 4-3 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings. He has three wins in his last four games (3-1-0), but has an ugly 3.75 GAA and .884 SV% to go with it. The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as sizeable +270 road underdogs against an Oilers team trying to secure home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Kane has not played since April 4th due to an upper-body injury and is expected to remain out for Vancouver's final two games of the season. The 34-year-old is in the final year of a four-year, $20.5 million contract and will close out his only season in Vancouver with 13 goals, 31 points and a -20 plus/minus through 71 games played.

With two games remaining in the regular season and last-place locked up, the Canucks will play for pride on Tuesday, turning to Lankinen to tend the twine against the Los Angeles Kings. The 30-year-old Finnish goalie was solid in his previous outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-3 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks. It has been a frustrating season for Lankinen, but he has recorded consecutive wins for the second time this season, despite posting an ugly 4.32 GAA and .852 SV%. The Canucks enter Tuesday's contest as +134 home underdogs against a Kings team that is 6-0-1 in their last seven games.

With two games remaining in the regular season and last-place locked up, the Canucks will play for pride on Tuesday, turning to Lankinen to tend the twine against the Los Angeles Kings. The 30-year-old Finnish goalie was solid in his previous outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 4-3 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks. It has been a frustrating season for Lankinen, but he has recorded consecutive wins for the second time this season, despite posting an ugly 4.32 GAA and .852 SV%. The Canucks enter Tuesday's contest as +134 home underdogs against a Kings team that is 6-0-1 in their last seven games.

After not being a healthy scratch for 14 seasons, Brandan Gallagher was held out of Montreal's lineup for the previous four games but will draw back in for Game 82 in Philadelphia on Tuesday. The 33-year-old gritty winger is having a down season offensively, with just six goals, 22 points and 39 PIMs in 76 games played while averaging 12:22 TOI.

Lankinen has missed the last four games with an upper-body injury but will start Saturday in San Jose. Lankinen has giving up three-plus goals in five straight games, going 1-3-0 with an ugly .869 SV%. One of those games was against the Sharks, who he'll face again tonight. He played just 5:55 and gave up three goals on six shots in that game.

Kudryavtsev has two goals and 16 assists (18 points) in 42 games with Abbotsford this season. If he plays for the Canucks on Saturday, it will be his season debut and third career NHL game.