Chase Stillman Returns to Abbotsford Lineup with Energy, Edge, and Something to Prove
The Abbotsford Canucks’ 2025-26 season hasn’t gone quite the way they drew it up after hoisting the Calder Cup last spring. Between a wave of injuries and the natural turnover that comes with player development, it’s been a grind for head coach Manny Malhotra and his staff. But on Saturday night, they got a much-needed boost - not just in the form of a 2-1 win over the Ontario Reign, but with the return of a key piece who’s been missing for months.
Chase Stillman, the former first-round pick acquired in the Arturs Silovs trade, finally made his way back into the lineup after a long rehab from a broken fibula suffered back in late October. And while the scoresheet didn’t reflect it, his presence was impossible to miss.
Let’s rewind for a second. Stillman, just 22, was brought in to be a difference-maker - a high-motor winger with skill and grit who could immediately slot into Abbotsford’s top-nine.
He picked up an assist on opening night and was finding his footing when a fluke injury against the Calgary Wranglers on October 28 derailed his season. The diagnosis: a broken fibula.
No surgery needed, but a long road back nonetheless.
“I’ve never been on long-term injured reserve during the season; don’t recommend it,” Stillman said with a smile after Saturday’s win. “It was such a fluke accident.
I ended up breaking my fibula... it didn’t break all the way through, just in two places. So yeah, it was a long time, but our strength guy did a great job getting me feeling good, feeling in shape, and I really feel like I didn’t miss a step out there tonight.”
That confidence wasn’t just talk. Stillman came out with jump, throwing his 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame around on the forecheck, playing with pace, and creating a handful of chances. He didn’t find the net, but he made life difficult for Ontario’s defense all night - and that’s exactly the kind of game Abbotsford needs from him.
Head coach Manny Malhotra liked what he saw.
“For missing the amount of time that he did, he had an impact on the game,” Malhotra said postgame. “He had some quality minutes for us.
He used his assets to his advantage… he skates really well, transported the puck, took it to the rack a couple times. What I liked most was that he didn’t overcomplicate things.
He kept it simple, played to his strengths, and made a difference out there.”
That’s high praise for a player who’s only laced up seven games in the Canucks organization. But even in that short time, Stillman’s identity as a player is starting to show. He’s tenacious, plays with pace, and isn’t afraid to get under opponents’ skin - but there’s also a layer of finesse to his game that hints at more offensive upside.
“I would say I’m a little bit of a Swiss Army knife,” Stillman said when asked to describe his style. “I play hard in everything I do.
I like to do things at top speed. I think I bring an element of skill to the game.
I would say I’m an elite passer. I like passing the puck and scoring goals as well.
I had my chances tonight; I just missed. Ultimately, I play hard, and I’m a pest to play against, and I like to think I make the players around me better.”
That’s the kind of player every AHL team wants - and every NHL team keeps an eye on.
Stillman’s return comes at a pivotal time. Abbotsford’s season hasn’t lived up to the expectations set after last year’s championship run, but there’s still time to right the ship. Whether or not they make a push in the standings, Stillman’s development is now one of the key storylines to watch down the stretch.
He’s healthy. He’s hungry. And if Saturday night was any indication, he’s ready to make up for lost time.