Victor Mancini will draw into Vancouver's lineup on Monday against the St. Louis Blues, resulting in Forbort being a healthy scratch. Through two games this season, the 33-year-old Forbort is averaging 13:56 time-on-ice, recording four blocks and two hits.
The Canucks have only allowed four goals through two games (1-1-0) courtesy of strong netminding from Thatcher Demko, but they will turn to Lankinen for his first start of the season on Monday against the St. Louis Blues. The 30-year-old Lankinen emerged with a strong season in Vancouver in 2024-25 after Demko was sidelined for parts of the season due to injuries, posting a 2.62 GAA and .902 SV% in 51 games (25-15-10). The Canucks enter Monday's contest as -118 home favorites against the Blues.
The Canucks will roll with Demko in their crease in Thursday's season-opening game against the Calgary Flames and hope he can return to the form that made him a Vezina runner-up in 2023-24. The 29-year-old Demko missed most of the 2024-25 season due to injury and battled adversity when called upon, posting a 2.90 GAA and .889 SV% in 23 games (10-8-3). The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as sizable -205 home favorites against a Flames team coming off a 4-3 shootout win over the Edmonton Oilers last night.
The Canucks will roll with Demko in their crease in Thursday's season-opening game against the Calgary Flames and hope he can return to the form that made him a Vezina runner-up in 2023-24. The 29-year-old Demko missed most of the 2024-25 season due to injury and battled adversity when called upon, posting a 2.90 GAA and .889 SV% in 23 games (10-8-3). The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as sizable -205 home favorites against a Flames team coming off a 4-3 shootout win over the Edmonton Oilers last night.
Blueger missed practice on Sunday and will miss at least Vancouver's season opener. The Canucks will see how he responds in the next couple of days, but rookie Braeden Cootes looks poised to be in the opening night roster in Blueger's absence.
Olivier-Joseph split time last season between the St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins, averaging 15:16 time-on-ice and scoring three points (0G / 3A) in 47 games. The 26-year-old defenseman adds some depth to the Canucks' blueline but may have to wait to make his team debut as he recovers from injury.
The Canucks recalled Mancini, who is expected to be on their opening night roster on the third defensive pair alongside Elias Nils Pettersson. The 23-year-old Mancini played a career-high 16 games with the Canucks last season, scoring three points (1G / 2A).
Blueger missed practice on Sunday and is questionable for Vancouver's season opener on Thursday. The Canucks will see how he responds in the next couple of days, but rookie Braeden Cootes could be in the opening night lineup if Blueger is unavailable.
Hoglander's sixth season in Vancouver will get off to a rocky start after the Canucks announced Monday that the forward successfully underwent lower-body surgery and is expected to be out for 8-10 weeks. The 24-year-old was expecting to play his usual bottom-six role this season after an eight-goal, 25-point campaign across 72 games played in 2024-25.
Hoglander was expected to start the season on Vancouver's third line but will likely need to wait to make his season debut, as he is sidelined week-to-week with a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old scored 25 points (8G / 17A) in 72 games last season.
Chiarot was Vancouver's 2025 6th round pick (175th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday. The 19-year-old right-winger is expected to spend 2025-26 with Brampton, where he is also projected to take a massive step forward entering his third OHL season after putting up 21 goals and 35 points in 66 games in 2024-25.
Patterson was Vancouver's 2024 5th round pick (125th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday. The 19-year-old forward is expected to return to the OHL for the 2025-26 season, starting a new chapter with Niagara (OHL) after spending last season in Barrie (OHL) with 25 goals and 59 points in 64 games played.
Kravtsov will return to North America for a second stint and another shot at the NHL after Vancouver announced Tuesday they had signed the 25-year-old Russian to a one-year, two-way contract. The big-bodied winger is a former 9th overall pick (2018 draft) but has spent the last two seasons in the KHL after an unsuccessful first turn in the NHL with New York and Vancouver. He impressed in Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL) in 2024-25, with 27 goals and 58 points in 66 games played. He will battle for a bottom-six role in training camp.
Stillman was the 29th overall pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL game and has already joined his third organization. He had three points (1G / 2A) in 19 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) last season.
Vancouver has signed their 2025 1st-round pick in Braeden Cootes after the 18-year-old forward signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Wednesday. The Alberta native spent 2024-25 captaining the Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) and had 26 goals and 63 points in 60 games played. He will attempt to secure a position on the Canucks for the upcoming season but is expected to eventually return to Seattle for the majority of 2025-26.
After 40 wins in the last two seasons with Abbotsford (AHL), Nikita Tolopilo has earned himself a two-year, two-way contract extension to remain with Vancouver. The 25-year-old undrafted Belarusian netminder made his NHL debut in 2024-25 but struggled in just two appearances, with a .885 SV% and 2.15 GAA. He is expected to start the 2025-26 season in Abbotsford and will likely have to battle with Arturs Silovs for the starting position yet again.
After four successful seasons in Abbotsford (AHL), Jett Woo will remain in Vancouver's organization after signing a one-year, two-way contract extension on Tuesday. The 24-year-old was drafted by Vancouver in the 2nd round (37th overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft but has yet to make his NHL debut. In 67 games with Abbotsford (AHL) in 2024-25, he had two goals, 18 points and 90 PIMs.
