The Vancouver Canucks have put defenceman Jack Thompson on NHL waivers, a move that lines up with Abbotsford getting help on the back end.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the waiver placement, and if Thompson clears, he should be headed for an AHL assignment with a significant role waiting for him on Abbotsford’s right side.
Thompson landed in the Canucks’ organization last season through a swap of defencemen between Abbotsford and the San Jose Barracuda. Then-Abbotsford general manager Ryan Johnson brought him in and sent Jett Woo to California, and Thompson wasted little time making an impact.
In 14 games with Abbotsford, the right-shot defender scored three goals and finished with 13 points. That topped the output he put up in 42 games with the Barracuda, where he had three goals and 12 points.
The 24-year-old’s path to this point has been a winding one. Tampa Bay selected him in the third round, 93rd overall, of the 2020 NHL Draft.
During the COVID-19-cancelled 2020-21 CHL season, he played in Sweden before returning to the Ontario Hockey League, where he captained the Sudbury Wolves. He produced 23 points in 29 games there before a mid-season move sent him to the Soo Greyhounds.
Thompson kept rolling after the trade. In 36 games with the Greyhounds, he scored 13 goals and totaled 34 points.
He also delivered in the playoffs, adding six goals and 14 points in nine games as Soo fell to the Flint Firebirds in the Western Conference semi-finals. That season also included a spot on Team Canada at the World Junior Championship, where he recorded one goal and four points in seven games.
After that, Thompson moved into pro hockey and has spent most of his career in the American League. Across 217 AHL games, he has 23 goals, 104 points, a minus-two rating and 60 penalty minutes. He has also played 34 NHL games between the Lightning and Sharks, with his strongest NHL season coming in 2024-25, when he posted two goals and six points in 34 games with San Jose.
Thompson was injured before Canucks training camp this season and was kept out of on-ice work with the main group in Penticton. His waiver placement suggests he is now ready to return.
In Other News...
Canucks Fans Should Stay Patient With Zeev Buium For One Reason
A nine-game losing streak has only added to the frustration around the Canucks rebuilding year, and Zeev Buium has become one of the more visible reminders that development is rarely linear. The young defenseman arrived with real expectations attached, especially because of his past offensive track record, but the early returns have been uneven and his role has already been adjusted as the team leans on other blue-liners in bigger spots.
Still, there is a reason to resist writing off Buium too quickly. He is young, he has shown in the past why so many people believed he could be more than a depth defenseman, and the Canucks are in a position where patience should be part of the plan. For a team that is trying to build something lasting, the broader view matters as much as the week-to-week results. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Put Jack Thompson In A Spot That Could Change Everything
Jack Thompsons first real step toward getting back into game action is coming through a familiar offseason logjam: waivers. The Canucks have placed the defenseman on waivers with the plan of sending him to Abbotsford, a move that reflects both the depth on Vancouvers blue line and the organizations desire to get him playing again after a preseason injury stalled his season before it began.
Thompson has already shown he can handle himself at the AHL level, and he also has a brief NHL run on his rsum with San Jose, which is part of why this decision matters beyond the paperwork. If he clears, the next stretch will be about building back rhythm and proving he can turn a strong minor-league track record into a longer look at the top level. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Linked To Young Forward Who Could Cost More Than Fans Expect
Ivan Miroshnichenko has emerged as a name worth watching for teams looking to add a young forward with upside, and Vancouver is apparently among the clubs kicking tires. The 20-year-old winger has been squeezed by a Washington roster logjam that has limited his playing time, and with his waiver exemption time used up, the Capitals and his camp have opened the door to exploring a move.
For the Canucks, the appeal is obvious: he has the kind of age and skating profile that can fit a team trying to balance present needs with future value. The catch is that Washington is not expected to give him away cheaply, and any deal would likely have to come with a meaningful draft-pick return, which makes this more than a casual depth addition for Vancouver. [Read more 🡒]