The Vancouver Canucks are heading into a week that should tell us plenty about where this early-season group is really at. They’ve already had the kind of home games that can light up a scoreboard, but now comes a different test: their first major trip out East, plus a few roster and performance storylines that are already shaping the season.
The biggest personnel update remains Thatcher Demko. Co-president of hockey operations Henrik Sedin said Demko is making daily progress after hip surgery earlier in the year, and while the team is not locking itself into a hard timetable, the internal goal is clear: get him back in net before Christmas. Until then, Kevin Lankinen and Leevi Merilainen are handling the crease.
That goaltending picture matters even more because the Canucks have not exactly made life easy on themselves in the opening period. Early this season, the team has repeatedly struggled to grab control right away.
The 9-7 loss to the Edmonton Oilers was a clear example, with defensive breakdowns early and an immediate deficit forcing Vancouver to chase the game. Cleaning up the first 20 minutes has become a major coaching emphasis.
At the same time, this group has shown it can finish. The 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames was built on a strong final push, as the Canucks exploded for four goals in the third period to flip the game and take the two points. That kind of late surge has become one of the more encouraging traits in the early going, showing both fitness and the ability to keep pressing when the game is on the line.
Among the newcomers, Paul Cotter has wasted no time making an impression. He’s brought a physical edge and some immediate offensive chemistry, and the results have shown up quickly: a four-game point streak to open his Canucks run.
Cotter leads the team with four goals and six points in four games, and he’s settled onto the second line with Liam Ohgren and Brock Boeser while also earning first-unit power play time. So far, he’s been the most impactful addition.
Leevi Merilainen also delivered a major moment against Calgary. The young Finnish goalie stopped 23 of 24 shots in the win, good for a .958 save percentage, and picked up his first victory in Canucks colours.
Now comes a stretch that should challenge Manny Malhotra in a different way. After a short three-game homestand, he’s taking the club on its first Eastern Conference road trip of the season.
The travel alone is one thing; the matchups are another. Carolina’s aggressive forecheck, New Jersey’s transition speed, and the Rangers at Madison Square Garden will all ask different questions of Vancouver’s structure and line management away from home.
The week begins Thursday, Oct. 8, with a 4:00 PM PDT game at the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. From there, the Canucks visit the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 12:30 PM PDT at Prudential Center in Newark, then close the trip Sunday, Oct. 11 at 3:00 PM PDT against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York.
In Other News...
Oilers Trade Focus Turns To One Roster Battle Up Front
Leevi Merilinen gave the Canucks a useful snapshot of why Vancouver claimed him off waivers from Ottawa, turning in a sharp showing against Calgary and giving the club a timely look at its goaltending depth. For a team that is always balancing short-term stability with longer-range roster questions, a performance like that matters, especially when every spot on the roster has to earn its keep.
Across the division, the Oilers are still sorting through their own roster pressure points, with trade chatter centered on the possibility of moving a depth defenseman to help their forward group. Three names have come up as potential candidates, and the discussion has only fed broader speculation around the league, including a theory tying several trade requests to players on Team USAs Olympic roster. For now, though, that looks more like a coincidence than a clean pattern, with each situation carrying its own logic and timing. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Face A Risky Call On An Intriguing Flames Forward
Connor Zarys name is suddenly in play for the Canucks after Calgary put the 25-year-old forward on waivers alongside Brayden Pachal, with the intention of sending both players to the AHL if they clear. Vancouver sits atop the waiver order, which gives it first crack at a player who was once viewed as an intriguing part of the Flames future and could still tempt a team looking for a low-cost swing on offensive upside.
The appeal is easy to see, but so is the caution. Zarys game has looked less lively since a pair of knee injuries in 2025, and the dip in foot speed has changed how he fits on the ice. For Vancouver, the question is not just whether there is enough upside left to justify a claim, but whether the organization wants to take on the added risk of trying to revive a player whose recent track record has become harder to trust. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Hit A Familiar Frustration Against Vegas Again
For a night, it looked like Vancouver might finally be ready to push back against one of its most familiar roadblocks. Paul Cotter and Jonathan Lekkerimaki found the net for the Canucks, and the game stayed tight deep into the third period as the club kept chasing a result that would have meant more than two points against Vegas.
Marc Gatcomb answered with the go-ahead goal for the Golden Knights, and Adin Hill backed it with 17 saves as Vegas held on for a 3-2 win. The loss was another reminder of how hard this matchup has been for Vancouver, with Hill continuing a personal run against the Canucks and Vegas once again leaving no doubt about who has controlled this series. [Read more 🡒]