Vancouver Canucks lines vs. Edmonton Oilers (Sept. 29, 2026)
What does success look like for the Vancouver Canucks this season?
The Canucks kick off the 2026-27 season on Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers, and no one is expecting the Canucks to win.
Essentially everyone is predicting that the Canucks will finish in last place this season, and even the Canucks’ own management has emphasized that they’re not focused on wins and losses as they take a patient approach to rebuilding the team.
So, if success can’t be measured by wins, how will it be measured?
It starts with effort. Some Canucks teams in the past have appeared to give up at times during games or during the season as a whole. Will this team continue to work hard for each other and for the fans for a full 60 minutes every night?
Head coach Manny Malhotra said during training camp, “There’s a very big difference between losing games… and playing losing hockey.” Effort will play a large role in discerning that difference.
The second criterion will be development. What roles will the Canucks’ youth play? How will they improve over the course of the season? What hope can they give fans for the future?
It will be crucial for players like Zeev Buium, Tom Willander, Elias “Junior” Pettersson, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Liam Öhgren, and Aatu Räty to take significant steps forward this season. Ideally, young players starting the season in the AHL will also push for NHL jobs.
Finally, success will be measured by entertainment.
A rebuilding team that loses a lot of games doesn’t have to be boring to watch. In fact, some of the most exciting teams in the NHL are rebuilding teams that give opportunities to young players and empower them to play fun, entertaining hockey.
Malhotra wants the Canucks to be an aggressive team that plays fast and spends as little time in the defensive zone as possible. Hopefully, that leads to some entertaining hockey.
Vancouver Canucks projected lines
While Jake DeBrusk missed Monday’s practice nursing an injury, he’s expected to be in the lineup for the Canucks in Edmonton.
Here are the Canucks’ projected lines:
Jake DeBrusk – Elias Pettersson – Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Liam Öhgren – Marco Rossi – Brock Boeser
Drew O’Connor – Max Sasson – Linus Karlsson
Arshdeep Bains – Paul Cotter – Brendan Gallagher
Zeev Buium – Filip Hronek
Jamie Oleksiak – Tom Willander
Elias Pettersson – Luke Schenn
Kevin Lankinen
Leevi Meriläinen
Brendan Gallagher will play his first game with the Vancouver Canucks, nearly 14 years after his last game with the Vancouver Giants.
The veteran winger will be starting the season on the fourth line, and he’s eager to get started with his new team. He’s also been enjoying connecting with the younger players on the roster.
“They bring a lot of life to the locker room and enjoyment to the game; it’s fun to see the excitement,” said Gallagher. “It’s a really good young core, and they show up every day, ready to work and put in the time, and they’re excited to be Vancouver Canucks. So, it’s fun to be around.”
While Linus Karlsson started training camp on the top line with DeBrusk and Elias Pettersson, Jonathan Lekkerimäki looked good on their wing in the Canucks’ final preseason game. It’s a big opportunity for the young prospect to prove he belongs in the Canucks’ top six.
Aatu Räty skated at centre on the fourth line at Monday’s practice, but he’s projected to be a healthy scratch for opening night, with Paul Cotter stepping in at centre.
The Canucks’ starting goaltender is expected to be Kevin Lankinen.
Edmonton Oilers projected lines
Expectations are extremely high for the Edmonton Oilers this season, as they did what every team nearing the end of their Cup window does: they hired a hard-ass coach.
Will it work better for the Oilers than it did when the Canucks hired John Tortorella? That remains to be seen.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will miss the game with a lower-body injury, so the Oilers’ lines are a little bit up in the air.
It’s likely the Oilers will have to split up Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl with Nugent-Hopkins out. With that in mind, here are the Oilers’ projected lines:
Isaac Howard – Connor McDavid – Zach Hyman
Vasily Podkolzin – Leon Draisaitl – Kasperi Kapanen
Alex Formenton – Colton Dach – Mathieu Joseph
Max Jones – Owen Michaels – Trent Frederic
Mattias Ekholm – Evan Bouchard
Jake Walman – Connor Murphy
Ryan Shea – Shakir Mukhamadullin
Tristan Jarry
Devon Levi
Nugent-Hopkins isn’t the only injury for the Oilers. Matthew Savoie is expected to miss eight weeks, while goaltender Frederik Andersen could be out until December.
The Oilers’ starting goaltender is expected to be Tristan Jarry.