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Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

Canucks News & Rumours: Lankinen, Pettersson, Hronek & Celebrini

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By The Old Prof | Last updated Jan 28, 2026 1:30 PM ET

The Vancouver Canucks got on the board first Tuesday night, but the lead disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived. Macklin Celebrini had a goal and three assists, the San Jose Sharks scored three times in a 4:04 span in the opening period, and walked away with a 5–2 victory at Rogers Arena.

Tom Willander opened the scoring just 1:15 into the game, beating Yaroslav Askarov with a long shot from the blue line during four-on-four play. The lead lasted only 36 seconds. Celebrini answered immediately with his 27th goal of the season, setting the tone for a Sharks surge that would come in waves. Adam Gaudette, Tyler Toffoli, Will Smith, and John Klingberg also scored, taking control once the momentum shifted.

Kevin Lankinen was pulled after surrendering three goals on six shots in the first 5:55. His early hook reflected more than one recent rough stretch. Nikita Tolopilo stopped 25 of 27 in relief, but by then the damage was done. Filip Hronek added Vancouver’s lone power-play goal in the third, which was the team’s first in six games. In the meantime, San Jose went 2-for-4 with the man advantage, including a five-on-three goal from Klingberg.

Celebrini now sits at 78 points in 51 games, continuing a season that has quickly become the centrepiece of the Sharks’ rebuild. He played well in front of his hometown friends and family.

Item One: Elias Pettersson Is on a Run

Elias Pettersson picked up two assists Tuesday, quietly extending a run of four assists over his last three games. It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective: two assists, two hits, and three blocked shots in a game where the Canucks were chasing the play from start to finish.

Pettersson now has 33 points through 45 games, including 11 on the power play. The raw totals don’t leap off the page, especially for a player of his calibre, but the full picture matters. His 75 blocked shots lead all NHL forwards — a telling stat for a player often judged almost exclusively on offence. It speaks to responsibility, awareness, and engagement, even when results don’t follow.

That’s the tension with Pettersson this season. He’s producing in an environment that is uneven at best. His minus-15 rating reflects context more than effort. The offence may waver, but the details haven’t disappeared. For a team navigating injuries, inconsistency, and a shifting identity, that consistency is quietly valuable — even if the scoreboard tells a different story.

Item Two: Kevin Lankinen Will Carry the Weight of What’s Next

Lankinen’s night ended before it had a chance to begin, pulled just 5:55 into the game after allowing three goals. The early hook spoke as much about circumstance as his play. The Canucks were already scrambling, and the game tilted quickly.

Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen stops a shot by Seattle Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen during a shootout (Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images)

With Thatcher Demko out for the season following hip surgery, Lankinen will shoulder the bulk of the starts moving forward. The workload is clear; the situation is anything but. He has gone 1-7-1 in January and sits at 7-17-4 on the season with a 3.54 goals-against average and an .881 save percentage. Those numbers are stark, but they also underline how thin the margin has become.

Lankinen needs a team that can stay in games long enough for him to do his job. Without Demko, there is no safety net. Every breakdown shows up immediately, and every early goal compounds the pressure. The question isn’t whether Lankinen can carry the load alone — it’s whether Vancouver can give him something resembling a chance.

Item Three: Filip Hronek Scores on the Power Play

Filip Hronek scored Vancouver’s lone power-play goal on three shots, adding two hits and two blocked shots. He also went minus-2 on the night, a reminder that even steady contributions can be overshadowed when the team struggles.

Filip Hronek, Vancouver Canucks (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Hronek has now produced two goals and two assists over his last five games, providing a stabilizing presence on offence. The 28-year-old defenseman is at five goals and 31 points through 53 games, with 74 shots on net, 81 hits, and 73 blocked shots.

His all-around game matters in a lineup stretched thin, and with Zeev Buium on injured reserve, Hronek will take the top power-play role uncontested for the foreseeable future. That combination of opportunity and consistency makes him one of the few reliable contributors on a team navigating injuries and instability.

What’s Next for the Canucks?

Vancouver faces a period of hard reflection and adjustment. With Demko gone for the season and other key players sidelined, the team must find ways to survive while giving younger players a chance to grow. Lankinen will be in the net more than ever, Pettersson will need to keep delivering in all three zones, and Hronek will carry a heavier load on special teams. It is a test of depth, of resilience, and of character.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier, but this is where small victories matter most. The team needs a timely goal or two and an effective penalty kill. Wins will be rare, but the lessons can last. How the Canucks navigate this stretch will define not just the remainder of the season, but the foundation they build for next year.