In the wake of massive news in Vancouver Canucks land, general manager Patrik Allvin revealed more unfortunate news. Marco Rossi, Derek Forbort, and Thatcher Demko will all be out for an extended period. Allvin was also asked about the Kiefer Sherwood trade, as well as his thoughts about the coaching staff.
Allvin Provides Update on Canucks Current Injuries
While Vancouver will have Teddy Blueger and Filip Chytil returning to the lineup relatively soon, Allvin had some other news to share today.
Firstly, Thatcher Demko, who was placed on injured reserve on January 11th, will be undergoing further evaluation. “I think they’re taking opinions from other resources around the world to see where his status is and what needs to be done or not. I’m sure we’ll know more here hopefully by the end of the week,” Allvin said in his press conference.
Since Demko’s injury to his Popliteus muscle in the 2024 playoffs, he has had six more injuries since then. It is definitely an area of concern whether or not he will ever be 100% again.
Secondly, Marco Rossi, who was placed on injured reserve on January 2nd, will likely not return until after the Olympic Break. Adam Foote mentioned on New Year’s Day, that the timeline was “at least a week“. Clearly, it will be much more than that. Allvin cited cautiousness as the reason for his extended absence. With the Canucks Stanley Cup Playoff hopes all but gone, that may very well be a wise decision.
Finally, Derek Forbort, who has only played two games this season, will likely miss the remainder of the season. The team said he was out for a “maintenance day” after the first two games, but he has yet to return since then. Allvin mentioned that it was a setback to a previous injury. His last injury before this one was an injury to his orbital bone in April 2025.
Allvin Responds to Kiefer Sherwood Trade
“We were again looking to accumulate more draft capital here, for this year and also moving forward,” said Allvin. Although all veterans are theoretically on the trade table, Allvin also mentioned the importance of keeping veterans around. He was not happy with the 6-0 loss on Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers.
“It is not good for anyone, it’s not good for the fans, not good for the players“, mentioned Allvin. When asked about the market price for Sherwood, Allvin mentioned that no teams had given up a first-round draft pick in 2026. That was a reason why the Canucks had to settle for two second-round picks instead.
Allvin Speaks on Coaching Staff
When asked about his satisfaction level of Adam Foote and his coaching staff, Allvin said he was pleased. He also cited difficulty evaluating the Canucks play due to injuries and the up-and-down play.
As the Canucks continue their rebuild process, you have to wonder if Adam Foote will be part of it. It is certainly true that injuries have made evaluating Foote’s coaching quality more difficult. Fans have expressed their displeasure at Foote’s deployment of players and questionable lineup decisions, such as his decisions for healthy scratches. At least, for the balance of the 2025-26 season, perhaps sticking with the status quo would put them on the pace of remaining last in the NHL, and picking first in the upcoming draft.
The Canucks will play the New York Islanders at 7:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time tonight, continuing their eight-game home stand.
Main Photo Credit: Bob Frid – Imagn Images