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Vancouver Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)

Canucks News & Rumours: Hronek, Rossi, Boeser & Who’s Gone?

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By The Old Prof | Last updated Mar 6, 2026 1:00 PM ET

The Vancouver Canucks will face the Chicago Blackhawks later today in a game that comes with a bit of unusual timing. The NHL trade deadline passes at 12:00 p.m. PT, and only a few hours afterward, the Canucks will take the ice for the first of back-to-back road games. It’s the sort of day when lineups can change suddenly, and players sometimes arrive at the rink unsure who might still be there by warm-up.

Vancouver enters the game with an 18–36–7 record and is coming off a 6–4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday. On paper, it looks like another defeat in a difficult season, but the final stretch of that game actually showed a little push from the Canucks. They mounted a late comeback attempt, scoring several goals in the third period before eventually running out of time. It wasn’t enough to change the result, but the effort at least hinted that the group hadn’t completely packed it in.

Chicago arrives in a somewhat similar mood. The Blackhawks dropped a 3–2 overtime decision to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. In other words, both teams come into tonight’s game trying to shake off narrow frustrations while also keeping one eye on the trade ticker that will define much of the day.

Item One: The Canucks Show Signs of Offensive Life

Even in a season that has been difficult in the standings, the Canucks occasionally show flashes of the offence the organization hoped to see more consistently. Wednesday’s game against Carolina offered one of those moments.

Several key players produced multi-point performances, including defenseman Filip Hronek and forwards Elias Pettersson and Marco Rossi. For a brief stretch late in the game, the Canucks were generating chances in waves and forcing the Hurricanes onto their heels rather than allowing them to dictate the pace.

Of course, the larger issue for Vancouver this season has been consistency. Those offensive bursts have appeared from time to time, but rarely lasted long enough to change the trajectory of a game or a week. Still, the coaching staff will likely hope the final period against Carolina is something the team can carry into tonight’s game against Chicago.

Item Two: Marco Rossi’s Encouraging Night

One player who particularly stood out in the loss to Carolina was Rossi. The 24-year-old forward recorded a goal and an assist, which many observers considered his best game since arriving in Vancouver.

Marco Rossi, Vancouver Canucks (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)

Rossi’s season has been interrupted by injury, which helps explain why his production has been uneven. Before Wednesday’s game, his last point was scored on Dec. 27 against the San Jose Sharks. He then missed the entire month of January and part of February recovering and working his way back into the lineup.

If the Canucks keep Rossi alongside Brock Boeser and Liam Öhgren, the trio that skated together against Carolina, that chemistry could develop further. For a team evaluating pieces for the future, productive combinations like that are worth another look.

Item Three: Islanders Rumours Surround Brock Boeser

Trade speculation is rampant this time of year, and one name that has recently surfaced in conversation is Boeser. During an appearance on Donnie and Dhali, insider Rick Dhaliwal noted that the New York Islanders have been scouting Vancouver heavily in recent weeks.

Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)

The Islanders are believed to be searching for an experienced scoring winger, which naturally leads to Boeser. At 29 years old, he remains one of Vancouver’s most consistent offensive players and has a reputation for finding space around the net.

There’s also a bit of history here. Reports from last summer indicated that New York was interested in Boeser as a free agent, but he ultimately chose to remain with the Canucks. The presence of former Vancouver captain Bo Horvat on the Islanders’ roster only adds another layer to the speculation, but Boeser has a long-term contract, and the Islanders are in a tight salary-cap situation.

What’s Next for the Canucks?

All of that leads back to tonight’s game against Chicago. Trade deadline day always creates an unusual atmosphere, and Vancouver is no exception. The Canucks have already been active, sending defenseman Tyler Myers to the Dallas Stars earlier in the week and moving winger Conor Garland to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. Chicago has also made adjustments, dealing Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Andrew Mangiapane and a first-round pick.

By the time the puck drops tonight, both rosters could look a little different from how they did earlier in the day. That uncertainty is simply part of trade deadline hockey. For the Canucks, it also means another opportunity to see which players step forward as the organization begins looking toward the next chapter of its rebuild.