The Vancouver Canucks have made several roster moves and are dealing with a number of injuries as they navigate the early part of the 2025-26 NHL season. Here's a breakdown of the latest news and rumors surrounding the team:

Sasson Returns to Vancouver

Max Sasson is set to rejoin the Vancouver Canucks, with the team recalling him from their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford. This will be Sasson's second stint with the Canucks, as he played 29 games for them last season, recording three goals and seven points. The 25-year-old has started the current season strong in the AHL, scoring two goals in two games. According to Sportsnet's Brendan Batchelor, Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote confirmed Sasson's recall.

Sasson is expected to step into the fourth-line center role. In 29 appearances with Vancouver during the 2024-25 regular season, Sasson contributed three goals, four assists, 31 shots on net, 13 blocked shots and 18 hits.

Cootes Reassigned to WHL

In a corresponding move, the Canucks have reassigned forward Braeden Cootes to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Cootes, who was drafted 15th overall by the Canucks in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, made the team out of training camp and played in the first three games of the season. However, the 18-year-old failed to register a point and had a minus-2 rating while averaging 10:47 of ice time.

According to Head Coach Adam Foote, the decision to send Cootes back to junior hockey was made after discussions with the coaching staff. The Canucks believe that Cootes will benefit from returning to a more comfortable environment where he can play a larger role and further develop his game. Cootes is not eligible to be assigned to the AHL this season. Last season with the Thunderbirds, Cootes had 26 goals and 63 points in 60 games.

Injury Updates

The Canucks are currently dealing with several injuries to key players. Here's the latest on their status:

• Teddy Blueger: Blueger is recovering from an undisclosed injury and was practicing in a non-contact jersey on Tuesday. Coach Foote said Blueger is close to returning but is unsure if he will be ready for Thursday's game against the Dallas Stars. Blueger will be traveling with the team on their upcoming road trip.
• Pierre-Olivier Joseph: Joseph is also nursing an undisclosed injury and was in a non-contact jersey at Tuesday's practice. Like Blueger, he will accompany the team on the road trip.
• Guillaume Brisebois: Brisebois is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. He was placed on the non-roster injured reserve on Monday and is expected to return around November 1st.
• Nils Hoglander: Hoglander is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. He was placed on injured reserve on Saturday and is expected to be out until late November.
• Jett Woo: Woo is on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. He was placed on the non-roster injured reserve list on Monday and is expected to return around late November.

The Canucks have had as many as eight different forwards playing while shorthanded, Conor Garland is leading the forwards with an average of 3:25 per game.

The Canucks will embark on a five-game road trip, starting Thursday in Dallas against the Stars.