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Vancouver Canucks News

The Canucks acquired Ohgren from the Wild on Friday along with Minnesota's 2026 first-round draft pick, defenseman Zeev Buium, and forward Marco Rossi in exchange for defenseman Quinn Hughes.

The 19th-overall pick of the 2022 NHL entry draft, Ohgren has yet to realize his full potential and is the least consequential piece heading to Vancouver in exchange for franchise great Quinn Hughes. The 22-year-old forward has just seven points in 46 games across three NHL seasons while primarily featuring in Minnesota's bottom-six. Ohgren failed to register a point in 18 games with the Wild this season.

Liam Ohgren
The Canucks acquired Rossi from the Wild on Friday along with Minnesota's 2026 first-round draft pick, defenseman Zeev Buium, and forward Liam Ohgren in exchange for defenseman Quinn Hughes.

The former ninth-overall pick of the 2020 NHL entry draft, Rossi's inclusion in the Hughes deal helps to address a dire need in the Canucks lineup. With Elias Pettersson (upper-body) currently sidelined, Rossi figures to feature as Vancouver's interim number-one centre. The 24-year-old centreman set a career-high with 60 points a year ago and was off to another productive start in Minnesota, tallying four goals and 13 assists across 17 games this season.

Marco Rossi
The Canucks acquired Buium from the Wild on Friday along with Minnesota's 2026 first-round draft pick and forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren in exchange for defenseman Quinn Hughes.

One of the top defensive prospects in all of hockey will now have even more pressure to fulfill his mighty potential as Buium is the centre piece of the haul the Canucks acquired in exchange for franchise great Quinn Hughes. The 12th overall pick in the 2024 NHL entry draft, Buium excelled in his two seasons of NCAA hockey, racking up 24 goals and 74 assists across 83 games at the University of Denver. The 20-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut earlier this season and appeared in 31 games for the Wild, tallying three goals and 11 assists.

Zeev Buium
Boeser (undisclosed) took full part in warmups and is expected to play against the Sabres on Thursday.

The Canucks, already expected to be without Elias Pettersson (upper body), will thankfully have Boeser in the lineup on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 28-year-old Boeser has 16 points (9G / 7A) in 28 games this season, but has been held off the scoresheet in eight of his last 10 games.

Brock Boeser
Demko will start vs. Buffalo on Thursday.

Demko has been sidelined for several weeks with a lower-body injury, but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, marking his first appearance between the pipes since November 11th. The Canucks were a modest 8-8-1 before Demko's injury, but struggled without him, going 3-8-2 in 13 games. The 29-year-old Demko has a 2.80 GAA and .903 SV% in 10 games (5-4-0) this season, but has battled injury adversity over the past few seasons and will likely be eased back in a starting workload. The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as -101 home underdogs against a Sabres team that snapped a three-game losing skid on Tuesday in a 4-3 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers.

Thatcher Demko
Boeser (undisclosed) is a game-time decision vs. Buffalo on Thursday.

The Canucks, already expected to be without Elias Pettersson (upper body), will take a major blow to their offensive prowess if Boeser is not able to suit up on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 28-year-old Boeser has 16 points (9G / 7A) in 28 games this season, but has been held off the scoresheet in eight of his last 10 games.

Brock Boeser
Demko was the first goalie off the ice at Vancouver's morning skate.

Demko has been sidelined for several weeks with a lower-body injury, but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, marking his first appearance between the pipes since November 11th. The Canucks were a modest 8-8-1 before Demko's injury, but struggled without him, going 3-8-2 in 13 games. The 29-year-old Demko has a 2.80 GAA and .903 SV% in 10 games (5-4-0) this season, but has battled injury adversity over the past few seasons and will likely be eased back in a starting workload. The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as -101 home underdogs against a Sabres team that snapped a three-game losing skid on Tuesday in a 4-3 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers.

Thatcher Demko
Pettersson (upper-body) will travel with Vancouver on their upcoming road trip but is unlikely to play vs. Buffalo on Thursday.

Pettersson participated in warmups on Saturday but was unable to play and has missed two straight games. It is unlikely he will play on Thursday, but his injury does not appear to be long-term, and he aims to return to the lineup on the Canucks' upcoming five-game road trip. The 27-year-old Pettersson was having a semi-resurgent season before his injury, with 22 points (8G / 14A) in 28 games.

Elias Pettersson
Demko (lower-body) is ready to return vs. Buffalo on Thursday.

Demko has been sidelined for several weeks with a lower-body injury and if he returns to the crease on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, it would mark his first appearance between the pipes since November 11th. The 29-year-old Demko has battled adversity with injuries over the past several seasons and will likely be eased back into action upon his return. He has a 2.80 GAA and .903 SV% in 10 games (5-4-0) this season.

Thatcher Demko
Pettersson (upper-body) is hoping to practice with the Canucks on Wednesday.

Pettersson participated in warmups on Saturday but was unable to play and has missed two straight games. He was reevaluated, and the indications are that the results were promising, as he aims to return to practice on Wednesday. The 27-year-old Pettersson was having a semi-resurgent season, with 22 points (8G / 14A) in 28 games.

Elias Pettersson
Pettersson (upper-body) will remain out vs. Detroit on Monday and is being further evaluated.

Pettersson participated in warmups on Saturday, but was unable to play, and will remain out of the lineup on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 27-year-old Pettersson was having a semi resurgent season, with 22 points (8G / 14A) in 28 games.

Elias Pettersson
Lankinen will start vs. Detroit on Monday.

The Canucks are coming off an impressive 4-2 win over the red-hot Minnesota Wild, courtesy of a 28-save performance (.933 SV%) by Nikita Tolopilo, but they will revert to Lankinen between the pipes on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 30-year-old Lankinen last played on Friday, allowing three goals on 17 shots (.824 SV%), in a 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth. He has an uninspiring 3.41 GAA and .881 SV% in 16 games this season (4-9-3). The Canucks enter Monday's contest as +105 home underdogs against a Red Wings team that has been miserable defensively, allowing 41 goals (4.6 GA / GP) in their last nine games (3-4-2).

Kevin Lankinen
Hoglander (lower-body) will make his season debut vs. Minnesota.

Hoglander underwent lower-body surgery towards the end of training camp and will finally make his season debut on Monday against the Minnesota Wild. The 24-year-old should return to his usual bottom-six role this season after an eight-goal, 25-point campaign across 72 games played in 2024-25.

Nils Hoglander
Lankinen is expected to start vs. Detroit on Monday.

The Canucks are coming off an impressive 4-2 win over the red-hot Minnesota Wild, courtesy of a 28-save performance (.933 SV%) by Nikita Tolopilo, but they will revert to Lankinen between the pipes on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 30-year-old Lankinen last played on Friday, allowing three goals on 17 shots (.824 SV%), in a 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth. He has an uninspiring 3.41 GAA and .881 SV% in 16 games this season (4-9-3). The Canucks enter Monday's contest as +105 home underdogs against a Red Wings team that has been miserable defensively, allowing 41 goals (4.6 GA / GP) in their last nine games (3-4-2).

Kevin Lankinen