Hughes missed Vancouver's final four games before the break for the 4Nations Face-Off and has not played two straight since the NHL resumed it's activities, but he will likely return on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. The 25-year-old Hughes is amid another Norris trophy caliber season, posting 59 points (14G / 45A) in 47 games.
With Thatcher Demko battling a lower-body injury during the preseason, the Canucks signed Lankinen to a one-year contract to temporarily fill the void in the team's crease. That said, Lankinen has impressed in his first season with the Canucks, posting a solid 2.53 GAA, .905 SV%, and four shutouts in 34 games (19-8-7), earning himself a lucrative five-year, $22.5 million contract.
Hughes did not play the final four games for the Canucks before the break for the 4-Nations Face Off due to a lower-body injury but was back at practice on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Hughes is amid another Norris trophy caliber season, posting 59 points (14G / 45A) in 47 games.
With Thatcher Demko expected to be out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, Arturs Silovs has been recalled from Abbotsford (AHL) to act as Kevin Lankinen's backup for the foreseeable future. The 23-year-old netminder has appeared in seven games for Vancouver this season but has struggled with a 1-4-1 record, 4.11 GAA and .847 SV%.
Demko will not make Vancouver's upcoming five-game road trip after it was announced he is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Vancouver expects to re-evaluate the goaltender when they return from Seattle next weekend. Kevin Lankinen in the meantime is expected to get the majority of the Canucks' starts going forward.
O'Connor was acquired from Pittsburgh in late January in the deal that saw Marcus Pettersson also come to Vancouver and has signed a two-year, $5 million contract extension ($2.5 million AAV) on Tuesday to remain a Canuck for the foreseeable future. O'Connor is in his fifth NHL season and has eight goals and 18 points in 57 games played between Pittsburgh and Vancouver in 2024-25.
