Canucks leadership sets expectations for training camp as Sedins, Johnson and Malhotra focus on process

The Story

With the Vancouver Canucks preparing to open training camp in Penticton, B.C., new hockey-operations leadership used Wednesday’s media availability to set a distinctly process-focused tone, rather than speaking in terms of wins and losses.

Henrik Sedin described success in terms of collective effort and accountability, pointing to a group of players who compete for one another and a broader “foundation and plan.” Daniel Sedin connected the same theme to player development, saying the organization must draft and develop prospects capable of sustaining success as the group grows.

General manager Ryan Johnson framed the approach around resilience during a long season, describing the need to establish habits that can carry the club through difficult stretches. He also suggested that internal confidence matters when results swing, using the idea that teams face repeated training camps and must be able to rely on more than moment-to-moment momentum.

Head coach Manny Malhotra further clarified how the club intends to evaluate progress, distinguishing between losing games and “playing losing hockey.” He emphasized details and habits tied to winning opportunities, while describing pride in checking the “right” boxes through learning and improvement rather than relying on short-term outcomes.

A major operational variable entering camp is goaltending, with Johnson confirming that Thatcher Demko will not be a full participant in training camp. Demko is expected to be with the team in Penticton but still does not have a timeline to return to action, and Johnson said the club has remained aligned through the summer that it never had a set timetable for recovery.

Johnson described the organization’s priority as supporting Demko as an individual while he continues his rehabilitation from hip surgery sustained in late January. He did not lay out a specific return date, and the uncertainty around when Demko will be ready—and how the club will manage him when he does—could shape roster and practice decisions through the camp schedule.

The Canucks’ goaltending depth picture remains flexible. Johnson noted that Vancouver has Kevin Lankinen as a reliable option behind Demko and that the rest of the depth plan is less certain over the next week or two. He also referenced Nikita Tolopilo as a solid third option who would likely require navigating the waiver process, while adding that the club has brought in veteran Chris Driedger on a professional tryout, reflecting contingency planning.

In addition to on-ice considerations, leadership addressed an ongoing practice-facility discussion tied to a memorandum of understanding with the City of Vancouver. Daniel Sedin said the club is working with local stakeholders to ensure the plan includes an additional ice surface, arguing that a second sheet is necessary both for NHL practices and for maintaining community ice capacity rather than displacing it.

Sedins also drew attention to the broader development philosophy, describing an intent to avoid rushing prospects into the NHL too quickly. Malhotra said the organization does not want to be “short-sighted,” using the idea that what matters most is contribution to the club over the next three to five years rather than what a player can do over the first few days of training camp.

Johnson and Malhotra described the difficulty of reversing a decision to call up a player before they are ready, noting that once a commitment is made and later deemed premature, it can be hard for both the organization and the player to reimagine their trajectory. They cited the risk of a pattern in past seasons where young players might not go back after being elevated.

Training-camp preparation will therefore occur against two linked backdrops: Demko’s uncertain availability and a renewed emphasis on long-term player development. Leadership’s remarks suggest Vancouver is trying to build a consistent identity around “playing the right way” while preserving enough organizational flexibility to manage roster and practice demands as camp progresses.