{"id":449101,"date":"2026-02-06T16:29:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T16:29:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/449101\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T16:29:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T16:29:32","slug":"canucks-news-rumours-chytil-garland-debrusk-depth-the-hockey-writers-vancouver-canucks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/449101\/","title":{"rendered":"Canucks News & Rumours: Chytil, Garland, DeBrusk & Depth – The Hockey Writers – Vancouver Canucks"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Vancouver Canucks<\/a> are limping into the final game before the Olympic break, desperate for something \u2014 anything \u2014 to lift them out of a brutal stretch. They\u2019ve lost 16 of their last 18 games, and the 2026 road schedule has been especially unforgiving. Wednesday\u2019s trip to Las Vegas to face the Golden Knights offers a small window of hope: a chance to end a skid, inject some confidence, and maybe give players and fans a glimmer that not everything has gone sideways this season.<\/p>\n

Related: Canucks Dominated This Season by BC-Born Minten, Kindel & Sourdif<\/a><\/p>\n

The Canucks\u2019 backdrop is familiar: depth issues, injuries, and illnesses that leave the lineup patchwork at best. The Canucks come off a 6-2 loss on the road versus the Utah Mammoth, a game that highlighted how much they\u2019ve struggled to find secondary scoring. Wednesday will see them face a Golden Knights team that has faltered recently, losing seven of eight games, but remains a powerful opponent in every way. Historically, Vancouver has struggled against Vegas, but sometimes it\u2019s the unexpected circumstances \u2014 a tired, slumping opponent \u2014 that produce a spark. The Canucks will need all the spark they can muster.<\/p>\n

Item One: Filip Chytil Out Battling Migraines<\/p>\n

Filip Chytil<\/a> will sit out Wednesday\u2019s matchup due to migraines. It\u2019s the kind of timing no team wants, but the bright side is the Olympic break is just around the corner, giving the 26-year-old forward a few extra days to recover.<\/p>\n

\"FilipNew Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton defends against Vancouver Canucks forward Filip Chytil (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

Chytil hasn\u2019t been a major point producer this season, contributing three goals and 24 shots over 12 games, but he\u2019s an important piece of Vancouver\u2019s bottom six. His absence will force some lineup juggling, with younger forwards or depth players tasked with picking up the slack. For a team already struggling for consistent secondary scoring, that\u2019s not a small ask.<\/p>\n

Related: Canucks Should Sign Anthony Romani This Season<\/a><\/p>\n

Barring setbacks, Chytil is expected to return to his usual role after the break. For now, the focus is simple: keep energy high, stay disciplined, and do what they can to remain competitive on a tough road.<\/p>\n

Item Two: Conor Garland Playing Through Illness<\/p>\n

Conor Garland, meanwhile, will take the ice on Wednesday despite still feeling under the weather. He missed Tuesday\u2019s practice, but the team will need him as close to full strength as possible. Even at less than 100 percent, he has shown he can still make an impact.<\/p>\n

\"ConorConor Garland, Vancouver Canucks (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

He recorded two assists in Monday\u2019s loss to Utah, breaking an 11-game scoring drought that followed a five-game absence earlier this season. Over 45 games, Garland has seven goals, 24 points, 94 shots on net, 27 blocked shots, and 25 hits \u2014 a solid contribution on a team that hasn\u2019t seen many bright spots. His presence is vital to stabilizing Vancouver\u2019s attack, particularly in the bottom six, where secondary scoring has been hard to come by.<\/p>\n

Related: Vancouver Canucks\u2019 Top 3 Defensemen of All-Time<\/a><\/p>\n

Playing through illness isn\u2019t ideal, and his ice time or effectiveness may be limited, but his ability to still make plays highlights why he remains a key player. He\u2019s the kind of veteran who can lift younger teammates even when the scoreboard isn\u2019t cooperating.<\/p>\n

Item Three: Jake DeBrusk\u2019s Cold Streak Continues<\/p>\n

Jake DeBrusk, like many of his teammates, is finding the scoring touch elusive.<\/a> On Monday against Utah, he started on the top line but didn\u2019t register a single shot in nearly 18 minutes of ice time. One goal in his last 13 games tells the story: this is a player in a rough patch.<\/p>\n

\"JakeVancouver Canucks left wing Jake DeBrusk celebrates his goal with teammates.
(Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

Even on the power play, where he leads the Canucks with 11 goals, the drought continues. He hasn\u2019t scored with the man advantage since Jan. 8 against Detroit. His linemate, Drew O\u2019Connor, has done slightly better, netting three goals in his last eight outings, but overall, Vancouver has struggled to generate offence.<\/p>\n

At practice, DeBrusk was placed on the left wing with David K\u00e4mpf and Linus Karlsson<\/a>. The combination was meant to spark chemistry. Karlsson, who had a hot streak after Christmas, is also cold, scoring only once in 16 games. The Canucks have scored just two goals in each of their past five games. Clearly, several key players are fighting to regain form ahead of the Olympic break.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next for the Canucks?<\/p>\n

Vancouver enters the Olympic break battered but still searching for positives. Coach Adam Foote and the players are focusing on effort and control rather than results. Defenceman Marcus Pettersson captured the mindset perfectly<\/a>: \u201cJust give it everything you got. You never want to go into a break on a losing skid. One game. Play harder.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: Canucks\u2019 Arshdeep Bains Scores Big for the Punjabi Community<\/a><\/p>\n

Even a modest win like staying disciplined, limiting turnovers, and converting on power-play opportunities could be meaningful. It\u2019s about finding confidence and direction, however small, heading into three weeks of downtime. When the Canucks return, they\u2019ll need that spark to push through the late-season grind. Against Vegas, the goal is simple: compete, hang tough, and finish the final pre-Olympic game knowing they gave it everything.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not about magic, just about incremental wins: effort, energy, and maybe a few bounces going their way. For a team that has seen too few bright nights this season, that might be enough to reset the mood heading into the break.<\/p>\n

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