SportsHockeyCanucks

Vancouver Canucks shake up their lines and Pettersson has a new winger

Noah Strang
Noah Strang
|
Feb 26 2025, 12:57 am
Vancouver Canucks shake up their lines and Pettersson has a new winger
@Canucks/X

The Vancouver Canucks are still searching for their first win since the 4 Nations Face-Off break and have changed their lineup as a result.

The club practiced in Los Angeles today and used some new forward combinations. Notably, Nils Höglander has been promoted to the first line to play alongside the struggling Elias Pettersson. The two Swedish players have displayed chemistry together in the past.

“He’s a little pitbull out there, hard-working, strong on the puck… maybe win me some pucks or vice-versa,” said Pettersson about having Höglander back on his wing.

Brock Boeser was bumped down to the third line as a result. With him still needing a new contract, it’s not a great sign that he’s not in the top six.

Here are the full forward lines per The Athletic’s Thomas Drance.

DeBrusk – Pettersson – Höglander
Joshua – Chytil – Garland
O’Connor – Suter – Boeser
Bains – Blueger – Sherwood

The Canucks also had some different defence pairs than they used last game. Captain Quinn Hughes was a full participant in practice and seems set to return against the Los Angeles Kings tomorrow night.

Hughes has been dearly missed during the past six games he’s been out for. The team has struggled to create offence without him, and his return should help them create more scoring chances.

The Canucks have scored just two goals over their last two games. Hughes leads the team in points by a margin of 24, and his presence should go a long way to solving that issue. He’s the sole player who can consistently create scoring chances.

With their captain back, the Canucks boast their best defence corps in years.

Hughes – Hronek
Marcus Pettersson – Myers
Soucy – Mancini
Elias Pettersson (D) – Forbort

Victor Mancini made his Canucks debut last game and played 13:56. The 22-year-old was acquired in the J.T. Miller trade and seems set to play once again against the Kings.

The Canucks are barely hanging onto the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. They lead the Calgary Flames by one point, but the Flames have one game in hand.

ADVERTISEMENT