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Feb 22, 2026; Milan, Italy; Connor Hellebuyck (37) of the United States celebrates after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Canucks News & Rumours: Hellebuyck, Lankinen, Boeser & Foote

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By The Old Prof | Last updated Feb 25, 2026 12:30 PM ET

The Vancouver Canucks jump back into action tonight, and if you’ve been following this team all season, you already know what you’re getting. This is a group trying to compete, grow, and make sense of a season that went sideways long ago. Even so, the game against the Winnipeg Jets has some interest.

The Jets are coming in hot, fresh off an Olympic glow-up from their gold-medal goaltender, and they’re desperate to claw their way into the playoff picture. Vancouver, on the other hand, is trying to get their young players settled and pointed in the right direction for next season.

That doesn’t mean there’s nothing left to play for, far from it. These final weeks can be valuable if the Canucks use them right. There’s ice time available, chances to experiment with lines, and an opportunity for a few young players to make a real case for themselves. It might not be playoff hockey, but it’s meaningful. That’s especially true for a club trying to build an identity that’s been missing for a long time. And with Winnipeg arriving in a frenzy, Vancouver gets a real test right out of the gate.

Item One: The Canucks Get a Break with Hellebuyck Out

Connor Hellebuyck’s performance for Team USA, especially that 41-save stealing of Canada’s gold-medal dreams, has Jets fans buzzing again. When a goalie plays like that on the world stage, it tends to spill over into the NHL, at least for a few games. The big news is that Hellebuyck was given the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. High honour for the American-born goalie.

But that means the Canucks don’t have to deal with him. Hellebuyck made a detour to Washington to attend Donald Trump’s State of the Union and won’t rejoin the team until Friday. Instead, Vancouver gets Eric Comrie, which is as close to a gift as this team has received in months.

Winnipeg is in “every shift counts” mode. They’re 11 points out of a wild-card spot with a brutal schedule ahead — 26 games in 50 days. The pressure is squeezing them hard. That desperation makes them dangerous, but Hellebuyck’s absence changes the math. We’ll see how the Canucks play tonight against a team backed into a tough spot like the Jets.

Item Two: Canucks’ Goaltending Hit Hard by Lankinen’s Travel Chaos

While the Jets get Eric Comrie, the Canucks get uncertainty. Their Olympic goalie, Kevin Lankinen, is stuck dealing with East Coast travel meltdowns thanks to the winter storms that grounded flights all week. So instead of returning from the break with a rested starter and a bit of stability in net, Vancouver is flipping through backup plans yet again.

Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen of the Vancouver Canucks (Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images)

It doesn’t end there. Brock Boeser has already missed time with a concussion and is now dealing with a virus. He skated Monday but didn’t take contact, which usually means, “Don’t expect him right away.” In a season where every bit of momentum gets undercut by something, this feels like more of the same.

This team hasn’t won back-to-back home games all season. Missing both Lankinen and Boeser doesn’t boost their odds. For a club openly shifting into development mode, these aren’t just lineup holes. They’re lost reps for players who need them. A weakened roster means more scrambling and less structure, which is the opposite of what you want during a rebuild. The upside, as always for this Canucks team, is that fans get to see the young players in action. And that’s the future in Vancouver.

Item Three: Foote Signals Full Rebuild Mode — Kids Get the Keys

Adam Foote isn’t hiding the fact that his team is rebuilding. Anyone watching the standings (2-14-3 in their last 19) already knew it, but hearing the coach say it straight out sets the tone. The goal now isn’t climbing the standings; it’s building habits, identity, and minutes for the youth who will shape whatever comes next.

Vancouver Canucks head coach Adam Foote (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)

Foote wants his young players playing real minutes, not the token “safe” shifts coaches sometimes hand out late in a lost season. He wants them to make mistakes, correct them, and take on responsibility that actually matters. His line about “doing it the right way” wasn’t a throwaway — it was a roadmap. Vancouver is trying to figure out who belongs, who still needs time, and who might not fit the future at all.

Fans may not love the pain of these losses, but a reset beats another year of aimless wandering. For once, the direction is clear, even if the road is bumpy. Call me overly optimistic, but I like the look of the next few seasons. I also hope Foote hangs around. It must be frustrating, but I think he brings positive character to his job.

What’s Next for the Canucks?

The Canucks’ immediate goal is survival: patch together a lineup, give the young players room to breathe, and keep the games competitive. Longer term, the next six weeks are an audition. Ice time is available for anyone who wants to grab it. The coaches are watching. And with roster decisions coming this summer, this stretch could shape who stays, who goes, and who earns a bigger role next fall.

Wins would be nice, but growth is the real scoreboard now. If Vancouver comes out of this with a clearer identity and a handful of young players ready to take a step, that’s a win worth more than anything in the standings.