Canucks reveal final cuts and it looks like Cootes will start in Vancouver
It looks like the Vancouver Canucks have made their final training camp cuts.
Defencemen Tom Willander and Victor Mancini have been sent to Abbotsford, the Canucks announced on Sunday. Max Sasson was sent down on Saturday.
General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that D Victor Mancini and D Tom Willander have been assigned to Abbotsford (AHL).
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 5, 2025
With Monday’s 2 p.m. PDT roster deadline looming, the Canucks are now down to the maximum 23 players (14 forwards, seven defencemen, two goalies), plus Nils Höglander, who is on injured reserve.
That’s good news for youngsters like Braeden Cootes and Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who are still on the NHL roster. Same goes for bubble forwards like Arshdeep Bains, Linus Karlsson, and Aatu Räty, who each need waivers to be sent to Abbotsford, but are still in Vancouver.
On defence, it appears Elias Pettersson and Pierre-Olivier Joseph will start the season in the NHL.
Cootes was the surprise of training camp. Not many picked the 18-year-old rookie to make the team at such a young age, but the 2025 first-rounder earned a spot.
Lekkerimäki also wasn’t assured of a spot coming into camp, but the 21-year-old likely cemented his spot after a two-goal game against the Edmonton Oilers in Friday’s preseason finale.
We likely haven’t seen the last of Mancini, who had an impressive showing in camp. It makes sense to give the 23-year-old minutes in Abbotsford rather than sit in the press box in Vancouver.
The Canucks begin the season on Thursday, starting with a home game against the Calgary Flames.
Canucks’ opening-night roster
Assuming no roster changes before Monday’s deadline, this will be the Canucks’ opening-night roster:
Forwards (14)
- Elias Pettersson
- Brock Boeser
- Jake DeBrusk
- Conor Garland
- Evander Kane
- Filip Chytil
- Teddy Blueger
- Kiefer Sherwood
- Drew O’Connor
- Aatu Räty
- Braeden Cootes
- Jonathan Lekkerimäki
- Arshdeep Bains
- Linus Karlsson
Defencemen (7)
- Quinn Hughes
- Filip Hronek
- Marcus Pettersson
- Tyler Myers
- Derek Forbort
- Elias Pettersson
- Pierre-Olivier Joseph
Goaltenders (2)
- Thatcher Demko
- Kevin Lankinen