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‘I feel 100 per cent for the first time since I’ve been here’ — Canucks centre Marco Rossi said as he returns to face the Jets
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Published Feb 25, 2026 • Last updated 52 minutes ago • 2 minute read
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Vancouver Canucks centre Marco Rossi (93) attempts to shoot the puck past New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) on Dec. 16, 2025, in New York. Rossi returns to the Canucks’ lineup against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night at Rogers Arena. Photo by Yuki Iwamura /APArticle content
It’s not a marquee matchup, but there just may be something to see Wednesday at Rogers Arena.
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The last-place Vancouver Canucks start their slow slog to the regular-season finish line by hosting the equally-inept Winnipeg Jets, who have plummeted to 28th place. So, aside from the last possible career visit of Jonathan Toews, and who could be moved in a trade, here are some things to see:
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1. We await the real Marco Rossi
The hard-luck Canucks centre has played just eight games since being acquired in the blockbuster trade that sent Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild in mid-December.
He blocked a shot Dec. 30 against the Philadelphia Flyers, didn’t play the final eight minutes, and was expected to be sidelined at least a week. He then had a setback in his rehab in late January. Rossi also missed 13 games with the Wild and was activated shortly after being traded to the Canucks. He has just two points (1-1) with the Canucks and had 60 points (24-36) last season in Minnesota.
“I feel 100 per cent for the first time since I’ve been here,” said Rossi. “After the shot block, I didn’t feel good, but kept playing and then I was out for a while. And with the trade, there was so much happening. The games I’ve had here weren’t my best, but it’s all about learning.”
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Practice lines, pairings Tuesday:
Kane-Pettersson-DeBrusk
O’Connor-Rossi-Boeser
Ohgren-Blueger-Garland
Hoglander-Kampf-Karlsson
E. Pettersson-Hronek
Buium-Myers
M. Pettersson-Willander
2. Can Tolopilo get rare home win?
So much for a goaltending duel between Olympic gold medallist Connor Hellebucyk of Team USA and Team Finland benchwarmer Kevin Lankinen.
Eric Comrie will get the net for the Jets because of travel logistics for Hellebuyck, while Lankinen was stuck in a New York City snowstorm in trying to return to Vancouver from Milan. It means the towering Nikita Tolopilo gets the start to strut his stuff and Jiri Patera will serve as the Canucks backup.
The 6-foot-6 Tolipilo is 3-3-1 this season in the NHL with a bloated 3.04 goal-against average on a club that has surrendered the most goals (3.65 per game), but he also owns an excellent .910 saves percentage. The Canucks are a league worst 6-17-1 at home and haven’t won at Rogers Arena since Jan. 29.
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3. Fond trade farewells to UFAs?
Evander Kane, Teddy Blueger and David Kampf will command attention before the March 6 NHL trade deadline.
There are home games here Monday and next Wednesday before the deadline, so the trio could still be here, or somewhere else. Regardless, the uncertainty isn’t easy on the players and head coach Adam Foote is aware of the circumstances and consistent trade speculation.
Fans will also have their say, either with cheers or jeers. It’s been that kind of sour season.
“I read the room. I worry about all of them,” said Foote. “And I’ll take a look where they’re at every day, their mindset, their body language. And there are times where I will approach guys and see how they’re feeling if there’s been noise.”
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