The Vancouver Canucks are limping into the Olympic break, but the timing couldn’t be better for a team that’s been patching together lineups for weeks. After a 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night, head coach Adam Foote addressed the media one last time before the league-wide pause, offering a glimpse at what the Canucks might look like once play resumes - and the news was largely encouraging.
Foote was asked about several key injured players - Brock Boeser, Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, and Filip Chytil - and his responses suggested that reinforcements could be on the way soon.
“All those guys you mentioned, I expect them to be back for practice,” Foote said, pointing to the first post-break skate scheduled for February 17.
Let’s unpack that a bit.
Brock Boeser: Trending in the Right Direction
Boeser, who’s been out since taking a hit to the head from Bryan Rust during the Canucks’ game against Pittsburgh, has reportedly started skating again. That’s a big step forward.
The 28-year-old winger has been one of Vancouver’s top offensive contributors this season, tallying 12 goals and 13 assists in over 19 minutes of ice time per game. His minus-30 rating is certainly a concern, but his offensive instincts and ability to generate chances are hard to replace - especially for a team that’s struggled to finish games strong.
Foote praised Boeser’s professionalism, noting that the Olympic break gives him ample time to get his legs back under him. “He’s a pro.
He’ll be good over the break, getting his ice time,” Foote said. “We’ve got lots of time with this group coming back; we’ve got a lot of practice time.”
Zeev Buium: Close to a Return
Buium’s situation is a bit more delicate. The 20-year-old defenseman has been sidelined since January 25 after taking a puck to the face against the Penguins.
He finished that game wearing a bubble mask, but hasn’t played since due to a facial fracture. Still, Foote sounded optimistic: “Zeev might be real close, but I think he’ll be skating.”
Before the injury, Buium was logging significant minutes - over 20 per game - and while his stat line (2 goals, 4 assists, minus-8) doesn’t jump off the page, his presence on the blue line has been valuable for a team that’s leaned heavily on young defenders this season.
Filip Chytil: Migraine Issues Being Addressed
Chytil’s status has been a bit murkier. He left Monday’s game against the Utah Mammoth after two periods, initially described by Foote as a “tweak.” That was later clarified: Chytil has been dealing with migraines, and while he missed Wednesday’s game, there’s optimism that the break will give him time to reset.
“He’s going to see someone that’s dealt with other players with the same type of injury, migraines. A new doctor,” Foote explained. “Hopefully, we can get down to the bottom of it… I’m positive that it will [be corrected].”
The 26-year-old center has been a reliable two-way presence for Vancouver, and while migraines can be unpredictable, the team is taking the right approach by prioritizing his long-term health.
Marco Rossi: Still No Update
As for Rossi, Foote didn’t offer any new information. The last known update was that the team was being cautious with his recovery, not wanting to rush him back. That approach makes sense - Rossi has dealt with injury setbacks before, and the Canucks are clearly playing the long game here.
Other Notes: Höglander, Demko, Forbort
Nils Höglander didn’t travel with the team on this two-game road trip, and there was no update on his status. Thatcher Demko has already been ruled out for the season, a major blow to Vancouver’s goaltending depth. Derek Forbort has been skating, but he’s not expected to return this year either.
Looking Ahead
The Canucks are off the ice until February 17, when they’ll regroup at Rogers Arena for their first full practice post-break. Their next game is set for February 25 against the Winnipeg Jets - a key matchup that could feature a much healthier Vancouver lineup.
For a team that’s been grinding through injuries and tough losses, the Olympic break couldn’t have come at a better time. If Boeser, Buium, Chytil, and possibly Rossi are all trending toward a return, the Canucks could be poised to hit the reset button and make a serious push down the stretch.