The Vancouver Canucks begin training camp in Penticton with Manny Malhotra leading a new rebuild phase focused on defensive structure and role questions across the roster.
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The Vancouver Canucks open training camp in Penticton, B.C., beginning Thursday morning under a new coaching and operations structure tied to the organization’s multi-year rebuild.
Manny Malhotra takes over as coach after recent leadership changes. The organization’s coaching staff previously included Adam Foote and Rick Tocchet, and the Canucks are now moving into a fresh emphasis after earlier system changes.
In camp, the organization’s near-term priority is defensive organization, including restoring structure and on-ice cohesiveness. The staff is also expected to do significant teaching work as personnel changes leave the group needing alignment with Malhotra’s structures and expectations.
At the management level, the Canucks are led by general manager Ryan Johnson and co-presidents Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Salary cap space is listed as $16,964,167.
The Canucks’ roster update includes additions of Brendan Gallagher, Paul Cotter, Jamie Oleksiak and Luke Schenn, with subtractions including Nils Hoglander, Evander Kane, Teddy Blueger, Marcus Pettersson, Derek Forbort, Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Curtis Douglas.
The camp preview highlights several role and competition questions. On defence, Victor Mancini is described as aiming to move into the top six, with competition from Kirill Kudryavtsev and other defenders pushing up from the minors. In the forward group, more open bottom-six spots are noted, including opportunities for centres Ty Mueller and Braeden Cootes. First-round pick Jonathan Lekkerimaki is described as facing a “critical camp.”
Goalie health is identified as a major wild card. Thatcher Demko underwent season-ending surgery on both hips last February and has been working back with the plan that he is ready for Game 1.
The preview also notes expectations around player readiness and mindset. It says Zev Buium will be paid $75 million over eight seasons starting in 2027 to replace Quinn Hughes as the franchise defenceman, while also noting he has played 76 NHL games and recorded 26 points.
The preview includes a roster projection for camp. Projected forwards include Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Liam Ohgren, Paul Cotter, Filip Hronek, Marco Rossi, Drew O’Connor and Brendan Gallagher, among others. The projected defensive group includes Buium, Filip Hronek, Jamie Oleksiak, Tom Willander and Luke Schenn, with goaltending led by Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen.
The focus for the Canucks in camp is whether early performance can build momentum while still following the multi-year approach, rather than making short-term adjustments that undermine the longer-term rebuild plan.
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