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

Canucks News & Rumours: Tolopilo, Koskenvuo, Rossi, Buium & Öhgren

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By The Old Prof | Last updated Feb 24, 2026 2:55 PM ET

The Vancouver Canucks will come out of the Olympic break thinking, “Where do we go from here?” The first half of the 2025-26 season has been messy, with injuries, young players still learning the ropes, and team stats flirting with historic lows. At times, it’s hard to care about the boxscore.

But even in a season that feels like it’s falling apart, there are threads worth watching: prospects making their case, veterans returning to health, and the kind of curious little storylines that make being a fan worth it, even when the standings are ugly.

None of these alone will turn the season around. But together, they offer a lens through which the Canucks’ future starts to take shape.

Item One: Canucks Goalies in Flux After Olympic Break

Vancouver heads into the second half of the season juggling its crease. Kevin Lankinen is still making his way back from Finland after the Olympics, Nikita Tolopilo was recalled from the team’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Abbotsford Canucks, under emergency conditions, and Aku Koskenvuo got a brief NHL taste before heading back to the AHL. Every crease decision matters now, especially with the schedule ramping up. The team needs flexibility to navigate the next few weeks without throwing anyone into the fire unprepared.

Lankinen won’t play against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday, opening the door for Tolopilo or Jiri Patera. Tolopilo has shown he can handle NHL minutes — he’s big, calm, and structured, which makes him a plug-and-play option in moments like this. Koskenvuo, meanwhile, remains in the development stage, and his stint with the NHL group was as much about experience and reps as actual game impact. For Vancouver, this shuffle is less panic and more careful timing: getting Lankinen back in form, giving young goalies exposure, and stabilizing the net down the stretch.

It’s not glamorous, and it won’t fix the standings overnight. But watching how the team manages this period says a lot about where the organization is headed and which players might earn a longer look next season.

Item Two: Marco Rossi Gets a Second First Impression

Marco Rossi’s first eight games with Vancouver after the Quinn Hughes trade didn’t exactly leave a mark. Injured for much of that span and playing through what he could, he recorded only two points before missing nearly two months. It wasn’t a terrible start; it was a non-start. Fans were left wondering what Rossi could actually contribute when healthy.

Now, fully fit, Rossi has a chance to rewrite that narrative. He’s shown top-six scoring potential in the past, and at two years younger than Linus Karlsson, there’s plenty of room for growth. As a key piece in the Hughes trade that brought him over from the Minnesota Wild, Rossi is a high-profile test case: if he finally clicks in Vancouver, it’s a glimpse at the kind of player the Canucks hope to build around in the coming years. Every shift, every puck battle, and every goal will be scrutinized. For the fanbase, it won’t be out of cynicism, but curiosity about what the future roster might look like.

This is Rossi’s second shot at a first impression — sometimes that’s all it takes to start changing minds. A strong return could be a small spark in an otherwise challenging season.

Item Three: The Canucks Prospect Pool Holds the Real Story

The Canucks’ future lies in their prospect pool. Zeev Buium is impressing with his smarts, mobility, and power-play skill. Tom Willander continues to show steady, two-way potential, which makes a top-four NHL spot seem plausible. Liam Öhgren is finding his rhythm, and Karlsson could surprise observers down the line.

Add Tolopilo’s flashes in net and Aatu Räty as depth, and while Vancouver isn’t stockpiled like the Colorado Avalanche or the Boston Bruins, there’s enough here to imagine a competitive roster a few years from now. This “lost” season lets fans stop sweating every loss and focus on development instead. Watching these young players isn’t just about patience; it’s about understanding the framework of a rebuild. Every goal, assist, or save is another brick in a foundation that could eventually be solid.

The 2025-26 season may be ugly in the standings, but that’s the point. It gives the Canucks room to see the future without the immediate pressure of contending. If you’re willing to watch, there’s plenty to keep your attention beyond the scoreboard.

What’s Next for the Canucks?

In thinking of the future, fans shouldn’t expect Vancouver to sneak up the standings overnight. But the remainder of the season will tell stories worth noting. Rossi’s health and performance, Tolopilo’s emergency availability, and the continued growth of other young players could hint at what’s to come. Fans are getting a front-row seat to the balancing act between youth, development, and avoiding historical lows.

The Canucks runway might be short, but every game matters — whether it delivers frustration, progress, or just plain curiosity. The season’s struggles aren’t the end of the story — they’re just changing chapters. Watching closely now could mean seeing the early sketches of a team ready to emerge stronger in a couple of years. This isn’t the season to expect wins, but it’s one worth watching if you’re curious about the Canucks’ future.