Canucks Make Multiple Roster Moves

The Vancouver Canucks are shaking up their defensive corps. According to a team announcement, the Canucks have claimed defenseman Cameron Crotty from the Minnesota Wild. In a corresponding roster move, Vancouver has assigned defenseman Victor Mancini to the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks.

Crotty, 27, will play for his third team in under two weeks. The Ottawa, ON, native began his season with the Ottawa Senators after joining his hometown team as an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. Because of Artem Zub’s injury in last spring’s postseason, Crotty made Ottawa’s opening-night roster.

Although he was originally a depth defender, Crotty got the chance to play for the Sens after they ran into more injury concerns on their blue line. The Boston University alumnus went scoreless in three games with a +1 rating, averaging 11:09 of ice time per game. As they returned to health, Ottawa placed Crotty on waivers on October 28th, and he was claimed by the Wild the following day.

Similarly, Minnesota used Crotty as a depth defender as they awaited the return of Brock Faber and Jared Spurgeon. Assuming one of the two returns tonight, the Wild were willing to risk losing Crotty on waivers to create room for Faber or Spurgeon.

Meanwhile, Mancini returns to AHL Abbotsford after going scoreless in eight games for Vancouver. The Hancock, MI, native is in his third year with the Canucks after they acquired him from the New York Rangers in the J.T. Miller trade. Unfortunately, he hasn’t yet turned into the defenseman that the Canucks believe he can be.

Although he’s only 24, Mancini will need to turn things around soon if he wants any staying power on Vancouver’s blue line. In his first three NHL seasons, he’s had a demoralizing CorsiFor of 38.7% at even strength, and has been well below league average in foot speed.

The Canucks weren’t done there. Vancouver also announced they’ve placed forward Akil Thomas on waivers. The former second-round pick is in his first year with the Canucks after signing a one-year deal last offseason. Thomas began the year on the season-opening injured reserve while recovering from a shoulder ailment. He scored nine goals and 22 points in 39 games last season with the AHL’s Ontario Reign and Springfield Thunderbirds.