Brock Boeser to return to Canucks lineup against Predators
Vancouver Canucks head coach Adam Foote announced that winger Brock Boeser will be returning to the lineup against the Nashville Predators.
Brock Boeser will return to the Canucks lineup tonight against the Predators. Adam Foote said he will start with Max Sasson and Jake DeBrusk.
— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) October 23, 2025Boeser had missed the last two games on a leave of absence due to personal reasons. The personal reasons for his absence have yet to be disclosed, and likely never will be unless Boeser is ever comfortable sharing them.
The Canucks went 1-1-0 in his absence, beating the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Sunday before losing 5-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.
The return comes at a much-needed time for the Canucks, as they’re currently depleted with injuries with all of Teddy Blueger, Guillaume Brisebois, Filip Chytil, Derek Forbort, Nils Hoglander and Jonathan Lekkerimaki out of the lineup. This required the Canucks to run six regular AHLers in Tuesday’s loss to the Penguins.
According to Foote, Boeser will re-join the team playing on the second line alongside Jake DeBrusk and Max Sasson. That line has played just 42 seconds together this season, with one shot attempt against worth 0.2 expected goals occurring while they were on the ice.
Boeser has had a solid start to the season when in the lineup, with three goals in five games for the Canucks. He’s coming off of a 2024-25 season that was in line with his usual production of 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points in 75 games.
With Boeser coming into the lineup, Joseph LaBate will be a healthy scratch in his place. He went pointless in what was his first NHL game this season, but has two goals and an assist for three points in four games.
The Canucks will look to bounce back from that 5-1 blowout to the Pens now that Boeser is in the lineup when they visit the Predators at 5 p.m. PST on Thursday. Vancouver currently sits in second in the Pacific Division with a 4-3-0 record.