Canucks News & Rumours: Hoglander, DeBrusk, Öhgren & Lekkerimäki

Höglander’s numbers don’t jump off the page — two assists in 18 games — but his value hasn’t really been about production lately. He’s been one of the few forwards consistently finishing checks, skating with pace, and at least trying to inject some energy into games that have gone flat early. On a team struggling to find traction, that kind of effort matters more than the stat line suggests.

From the Canucks’ point of view, this isn’t really about who replaces Höglander. It’s about what keeps getting exposed. Vancouver is running out of players who can play through chaos, and every new injury narrows the margin a little more. If this stretch is about learning who can survive tough minutes when things aren’t going well, Höglander’s absence just makes that evaluation harder and the season feel longer.

Item 2: Jake DeBrusk Heating Up, But for How Long in Vancouver?

Jake DeBrusk picked up two assists in Tuesday’s loss to San Jose, giving him five points in his last four games and keeping him on the top line. It’s a familiar DeBrusk stretch where he shows flashes of offence, speed through the neutral zone, and just enough production to remind coaches why they keep going back to him. When he’s rolling, he looks like a fit. When he’s not, things get uncomfortable in a hurry.

Not long ago, DeBrusk was a healthy scratch, and it didn’t sit well with him. That kind of thing lingers, especially for veterans who still see themselves as top-six players. Since then, his response has been solid, showing more urgency, creating more chances, and points starting to follow. From the Canucks’ perspective, that’s encouraging. It also raises some uncomfortable questions about consistency and trust.

The timing is hard to ignore. DeBrusk is producing again, playing meaningful minutes, and he checks a lot of boxes that contenders talk themselves into at the deadline: speed, playoff experience, and power-play skill. In short, there would be interest. The real question for Vancouver is whether this stretch represents something stable to build on or just another DeBrusk heater that arrives right when the league starts paying attention. If the Canucks keep sliding, this might not be about whether he fits long-term. Instead, it could be about what he could bring back while his value is up.

Item 3: Öhgren’s Quiet Value and Familiar Connection

When Liam Öhgren came to Vancouver as part of the Quinn Hughes return alongside Zeev Buium and Marco Rossi, he was easy to overlook. Eighteen games into his season without a point, he looked more like a depth add than a meaningful piece. But through his first 22 games in a Canucks sweater, he’s shown that assumption missed the mark.

What may have been underestimated at the time of the trade was how naturally Öhgren fit into the Canucks’ young core — especially his long-standing relationship with Jonathan Lekkerimäki. The two go back to their early days at Djurgårdens, arriving at the U16 level and spending much of their junior careers on the same line. From club hockey to international play, they’ve grown together.

That familiarity shows. There’s a comfort level between them that can’t be coached or rushed, especially for young players trying to establish themselves at the NHL level. For a Canucks team searching for direction in a difficult season, Öhgren’s emergence (paired with a trusted connection) looks less like a footnote in a big trade and more like a quietly important return.

What’s Next for the Canucks?

What makes this stretch feel heavier is that the Canucks aren’t just losing; they’re unravelling. Games aren’t slipping away late. They’re getting away early. Defensive details are missed. Breakouts stall. Retrievals turn into turnovers. You can hear it in the players’ quotes now: this isn’t frustration anymore, it’s self-awareness mixed with exhaustion.

The rest of the season may not be about wins and losses so much as information. Who holds their game together when things are ugly? Who competes when the margins are gone? With Thatcher Demko out long-term and young players like Nikita Tolopilo getting extended looks, Vancouver is entering a stretch that may quietly shape decisions well beyond this year — whether the standings cooperate or not.