Canucks return to Vancouver for first game since blockbuster Hughes trade

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Zeev Buium (24) plays the puck against New York Islanders center Calum Ritchie (64) and left wing Anthony Duclair (11) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

VANCOUVER — While many people were wrapping gifts to place under Christmas trees, a trio of newly minted Vancouver Canucks were wrapping up their lives in Minnesota.

The Canucks acquired forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, and defenceman Zeev Buium from the Wild on Dec. 12 in a blockbuster trade for star defenceman Quinn Hughes. Vancouver also got Minnesota’s first-round pick in next summer’s draft as part of the deal.

The three players joined their new teammates for a five-game road swing through New Jersey, New York, Boston and Philadelphia ahead of the NHL’s holiday break, then returned to Minnesota to pack up their lives before flying to their new home.

Now they’re set to don their new home jerseys for the first time Saturday when the Canucks host the San Jose Sharks.

“It’s been, for sure, a different holiday, or a different Christmas Day,” said Rossi, who landed in Vancouver on Dec. 24. “But it’s hockey, it’s business. I’m so happy to be here.”

Moving didn’t disrupt Buium’s holiday plans too much, and he got some help gathering up his belongings, most of which were clothes.

“We’re Jewish anyway, so we don’t really celebrate Christmas. That made it a little bit easier,” the 20-year-old blue liner said with a grin. ”But my mom came and helped me with everything. So it was nice.”

The new additions quickly made an impact on the struggling Canucks.

Vancouver went 4-1-0 across the road trip, with all three players putting up points.

“It’s been really good,” Rossi said. ”We’ve been winning, that’s the most important thing. And we just try to always keep growing together as a group and keep winning.”

After going 18 games without a point for the Wild this season, Ohgren has two goals and an assist in his first five appearances for the Canucks. His shootout goal also helped Vancouver to a 5-4 win over the Boston Bruins on Dec. 20.

“It’s been good for me. I mean, I don’t think I’ve play this good hockey this year,” said the 21-year-old left-winger. “I think it’s been a fresh start and I’ve been enjoying the games I’ve played. And just gotta keep going from there.”

Vancouver still lingers near the bottom of the NHL standings with a 15-18-3 record, but could get a boost Saturday from the return of top-line centre Elias Pettersson.

The 27-year-old Swede has been out since Dec. 5 with an upper-body injury.

“It was just a lot of pain trying to shoot the puck. But it feels good now,” he said.

Canucks head coach Adam Foote said the ailment took longer to heal than expected.

“He’s missed some time, probably a little bit more than we had thought he was going to miss. But he’s back tonight,” Foote said. “That’ll really help us out, though it’s the first game and we don’t know where his legs will be at after missing the time.”

The Canucks centre depth -- or lack thereof -- has been tested this season with a series of injuries.

Teddy Blueger picked up an undisclosed injury in mid-October and has played just two games. Filip Chytil has been sidelined with a head injury since Oct. 19 when he was levelled by Capitals bruiser Tom Wilson.

Foote admitted that he’s leaned heavily on Rossi since he joined the Canucks. The 24-year-old centre has averaged 20:13 in ice time over his first five games with the team.

“He’s very intelligent. You guys saw it. He can make plays under pressure, and he can defend as well. So it’s a nice piece, for sure,” the coach said.

Getting Pettersson back into the lineup will create some balance, Foote added.

Pettersson has eight goals and 14 assists over 28 games this season, and has logged important defensive minutes for the Canucks.

The centre noted that the team he’s rejoining is markedly different than the one he last suited up with at the beginning of the month.

Now in his eighth NHL season, Pettersson is no stranger to seeing teammates leave.

Watching Hughes, Vancouver’s captain, pull on another team’s sweater, isn’t easy, he admitted.

“I mean, Quinn is Quinn. We all know how good he is,” Pettersson said. ”It’s tough to lose him. A friend for a long time for me.

“But it’s a business, at the end of the day. Happy with the return we got, the players are looking good. So turn the page and move forward.”

This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press, was first published Dec. 27, 2025.