Liam Öhgren is walking into the 2026-27 season with a real opportunity in front of him.
The 22-year-old winger, who came to Vancouver in the Quinn Hughes trade and put up 18 points in 51 games last season, is projected to open the year in the Canucks’ top six alongside Marco Rossi and Brock Boeser. For a player still settling into life with a new team, this year already feels different from the way last season unfolded.
Öhgren said the biggest advantage now is simply being there from the beginning instead of arriving in the middle of everything.
"It's easier to get to know everyone from the start, especially with coaches and everything," said Öhgren. "Just get to know them and all the players as well.
Just to build a good group from the start and get into it right away, it's a lot easier. And to settle in with everything outside of hockey as well, it's a lot easier."
That early chemistry work is already underway. Vancouver is in captain’s skates right now, and the optional sessions have drawn most of the NHL and AHL roster. Öhgren sees that turnout as a sign the group is buying in before training camp even begins.
"It just shows that we're willing to do the work, and we're happy to see each other again. I think everyone wants to have a lot better season than last year.
Just to get to know everyone well. The new guys and all that stuff.
It's important. I think it's great that everyone is here."
There’s also a new voice behind the bench. Manny Malhotra was hired this offseason after the Canucks moved on from Adam Foote, and Öhgren hasn’t spent much time around him yet. Even so, the early read has been positive.
"He's been in Abbotsford with a lot of guys on this team, and I've only heard good things about him. I've heard he's really good with young players and all that stuff.
So I'm excited. I think it'll be great for this team and for the situation we're in right now."
The season carries extra weight for Öhgren because he is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1. There has also been discussion about whether Vancouver should lock him into an eight-year extension before those contracts disappear on September 16. For now, though, that doesn’t sound close.
"I don't know. I haven't heard that much.
I know my agent's been talking to them a little bit, but there hasn't been anything special. What I know is it's not something on the board, I think."
On the ice, Öhgren’s goals are straightforward. He wants offense.
He wants minutes. And he wants to prove he can handle the defensive side well enough to stay higher in the lineup.
"I want to contribute to the team. I want to play a lot of offence.
I want to be in the top six, play a lot of minutes both offensively and defensively, and help the team win. So just try to work and stay up the lineup, and yeah, hopefully help the team win."
Last season gave Vancouver a glimpse of what he can do. This one is about turning that into a bigger role. Wherever he lands in the lineup, Öhgren is shaping up as a player worth watching every night.
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