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Teddy Blueger registered two assists for the Vancouver Canucks last night. (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)

Canucks News & Rumours: Blueger, Pettersson, Joseph & Foote

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By The Old Prof | Last updated Feb 5, 2026 2:00 PM ET

The Vancouver Canucks fell 5–2 to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night, and the loss looked a lot like the others. The Golden Knights scored in quick bursts—twice in under 90 seconds early in the second and twice again early in the third – and the Canucks simply couldn’t match the urgency.

Defenceman Elias Pettersson and Pierre-Olivier Joseph scored, and Teddy Blueger chipped in two assists, but the Canucks never controlled the pace. Kevin Lankinen made 26 saves and did what he could, but breakdowns and slow reactions kept showing up at the worst possible moments.

Head coach Adam Foote didn’t sound discouraged afterward, but he also didn’t hide anything. He pointed to “blips” of strong play but stressed the need for everyone to be fully engaged. That’s becoming the story of this stretch: the effort is there in pockets, the structure shows up in pockets, but the consistency just isn’t. Vancouver has now dropped six of its last seven (1-5-1), and the Olympic break can’t come soon enough.

Item One: The Canucks Keep Having One Bad Shift

For all the talk about competing hard and staying structured, the Canucks keep getting undone by single moments. In Vegas, they finally cut the lead to 2–1, only to allow a goal 28 seconds later. Then they clawed back to 3–2 late in the second, only to give up a tap-in two minutes into the third. These aren’t full-game failures; they’re 20-second lapses that completely flip momentum.

The Canucks aren’t getting crushed for 60 minutes. They’re getting caught sleeping for 30 seconds at a time. And right now, that’s the difference between being competitive and watching games slip away. Foote called them “tiny breakdowns.” But for a struggling team, tiny breakdowns become fatal mistakes. Until those moments disappear, the losing streak won’t.

Item Two: Elias Pettersson (D) Keeps Showing Why He Belongs

One of the bright spots: Elias Pettersson keeps looking comfortable as an NHL defenceman. His second-period goal was a perfect example. He jumped into the rush, read the play, and finished with confidence. He’s not the solution to everything, but he’s becoming part of the solution. With Vancouver’s injuries and instability, the Canucks need anyone who can steady their blue line.

He’s still learning, and Foote is clearly giving him rope to grow, but he’s earning every shift. In a season where roster holes have been exposed all over, Pettersson’s emergence remains one of the genuine positives heading into the break.

Item Three: Pierre-Olivier Joseph Finally Scores

Pierre-Olivier Joseph’s late-period goal was his first since April 2024, and you could hear the relief in his voice afterward. But what stood out more was his reflection on the team’s mindset. He talked about “little details” and needing to enter the Olympic break with clarity.

Pierre-Olivier Joseph, when he played with the Pittsburgh Penguins. (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

These comments matter because Joseph is one of the few defencemen on the roster with playoff experience and a strong, detail-oriented game. When he highlights lapses, it’s an accurate read on why Vancouver keeps losing tight games. If the Canucks are going to stabilize after the break, players like Joseph will have to drive the standard.

What’s Next for the Canucks?

Foote keeps talking about “positives” and “growth,” but even he seems aware that messages only matter if the players take them to heart. His comments after the game felt like a coach trying to hold a fragile group together. Vancouver can’t afford another tailspin—the last month already dragged them from competitive to near the bottom of the Western Conference.

The question now is whether Foote has enough buy-in to keep the room from slipping. The Canucks aren’t quitting, but they’re not executing, and the gap between the two is growing wider. The break arrives at the perfect moment, but it also highlights an uncomfortable truth: the problems aren’t going away on their own.