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Scenes from practice: Blueger absent as Canucks skate for final time before Monday’s roster dealdline

Originally posted on Canucksarmy | By Jeff Paterson | Last updated Oct 5, 2025 5:20 PM ET

With the set-up for Monday’s NBA preseason game taking over Rogers Arena, the Vancouver Canucks skated at UBC on Sunday morning. It was the team’s final on-ice session before the season-opening roster had to be set at 2pm PT on Monday afternoon.

What we saw

The Canucks had 20 skaters and two goaltenders on the ice. Defencemen Derek Forbort and P-O Joseph were absent for a third straight day. Both are nursing minor injuries while veteran centre Teddy Blueger was also given the day off. He is ‘a little dinged up’ in the words of assistant coach Scott Young.

Defenceman Elias Pettersson was among the first skaters on the ice for practice. That was a good sign since the young blueliner was on the receiving end of a hard hit by former Canuck Vasily Podkolzin in Friday’s 3-2 overtime win. Pettersson left the game briefly on the orders of the league concussion spotter, but did return. However, if he was feeling any after effects of the collision he likely would have been held out of Sunday’s practice. Instead, he was a full participant.

#Canucks on Sunday at UBC
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Bains-Chytil-Garland
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O’Connor-Raty-Sherwood
Karlsson

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Willander

— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) October 5, 2025

Arshdeep Bains took the first line rushes with Filip Chytil and Conor Garland, although Linus Karlsson did spot in on occasion. But the early indications are that Bains is going to get that opportunity after playing in that spot on Friday night.

The Canucks will have another team day off Monday before beginning their final preparations for Thursday’s season opener against Calgary.

#Canucks going with the two nets in one zone at practice pic.twitter.com/eQn5mFu1V2

— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) October 5, 2025

What we heard

Assistant coach Scott Young says the organization was pleased with camp and the preseason: “As a coaching staff, we certainly feel like this group is ready. It’s not just the work ethic, it’s their attitude. They’re happy. They’re working hard. They’re enjoying their time at the rink. They’re showing up at the rink ready to work. And that’s all we can ask of them.”

Rookie Braeden Cootes on still being on the roster a day before final cuts are made: “I try not to worry about it. That’s not really in my control. I take everything day by day. I’m just tyring to earn another day.”

Arshdeep Bains on skating once again in top six role with Chtyil and Garland: “Just making sure I’m in the right spots for them. They can both make great plays and they’re pretty good at hunting pucks, too. And I think I’m pretty good at that. So we’re just trying to take advantage of what we’re all good at.”

This article first appeared on Canucksarmy and was syndicated with permission.

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