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Canucks News & Rumours: Karlsson, Pettersson, Lekkerimäki, Rossi & Demko Update

Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson (Thomas Salus-Imagn Images)

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Canucks News & Rumours: Karlsson, Pettersson, Lekkerimäki, Rossi & Demko Update

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By The Old Prof | Last updated Oct 20, 2026 11:15 AM ET

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The Vancouver Canucks could use a little good news right about now. After a six-game road trip that left them searching for answers, the team returned to Rogers Arena on Monday for its first home practice in almost two weeks. With a three-game homestand coming up, head coach Manny Malhotra finally had some time to work with his players and try a few things.

There were some interesting changes, too. Linus Karlsson moved up to the top line with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk, while Jonathan Lekkerimäki found himself in a new spot after a quiet night against Tampa Bay. There was also an update on Thatcher Demko, though the Canucks are still keeping their cards close to the vest on his return. And with the team mired in a seven-game losing streak, veteran Luke Schenn made it clear that patience with the process doesn’t mean accepting the same results.

Linus Karlsson Gets a Chance Alongside Elias Pettersson

One of the more interesting developments at Monday’s practice was Karlsson’s promotion to the top line alongside Pettersson and DeBrusk. Karlsson has put together seven points in 10 games this season, and the Canucks are giving him a chance to see what he can do with higher-end offensive company.

It’s an intriguing move. Karlsson has been productive enough to earn a longer look, and playing with Pettersson could let him build on that early success. Of course, one practice doesn’t mean the combination will stick, but with Vancouver struggling to find consistent offence, Malhotra has good reason to experiment.

Lekkerimäki also found himself in a different situation. He skated with Drew O’Connor and Liam Öhgren after receiving just three shifts in the third period of Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The young forward is still finding his way, and the Canucks need to figure out how best to use him. His offensive instincts are part of what makes him interesting, but he needs enough opportunity to show what he can bring.

Marco Rossi missed practice because he was still dealing with an illness after sitting out Saturday’s game. His availability for Tuesday’s matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes remained uncertain. Meanwhile, Filip Chytil centred Brock Boeser and Paul Cotter, while Max Sasson worked between Arshdeep Bains and Brendan Gallagher.

The defence pairings also got a bit of a shake-up, with Schenn skating alongside Zeev Buium after sitting out the previous two games as a healthy scratch. Sometimes a practice is just a practice, but with this group struggling, it’s worth watching whether any of these combinations carry over into game action.

Thatcher Demko Is Making Progress, but There’s No Timetable

Demko was an interested observer at Monday’s practice, taking in some of the early work from the bench. That’s encouraging in that he’s around the team, but there wasn’t much of a concrete update on when he might be ready to return.

Malhotra said Demko had dialled back his on-ice recovery work over the past week, although he stressed that the goaltender was still making progress. Like previous updates, the coach wasn’t prepared to offer a timeline for a return to practice or games.

Thatcher Demko, Vancouver Canucks (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

For the Canucks, that’s a difficult situation. Demko is an important part of the team’s plans, and having him healthy would give the organization another option in goal. But there’s no point rushing a goaltender back before he’s ready. The club has to be careful with a player whose health is so important to its longer-term plans.

Schenn also spoke bluntly about where the team stands after its latest road trip. He acknowledged that the group came home humbled and said the Canucks need to be a heck of a lot better. He understands that improvement takes time, but he also wants to see evidence that the work is paying off.

Building something takes patience, but players still have to hold one another accountable and make sure the effort is there. Malhotra used Monday’s practice to work on physical battles and body positioning, calling those skills learned behaviours. Those details might not generate many headlines, but they matter when a team is struggling to win puck battles and put together a complete game.

What’s Next for the Canucks?

The Canucks get a chance to put some of that work to use Tuesday night against Carolina. The three-game homestand gives them an opportunity to settle down after a difficult road trip, although the Hurricanes won’t make life easy. Vancouver needs more than a few new line combinations. It needs to show that it can compete consistently and turn good stretches into results.

It will also be worth watching Karlsson’s opportunity with Pettersson, Lekkerimäki’s role, and whether Rossi is healthy enough to return. Demko’s recovery remains a longer-term question, and the team will have to manage that situation carefully. Nobody should expect one practice to solve everything, but the Canucks need to start showing some progress. As Schenn noted, it’s one thing to talk about the process. It’s another to make that process visible on the ice.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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