It looks like the Vancouver Canucks have made their final training camp cuts.

Defencemen Tom Willander and Victor Mancini have been sent to Abbotsford, the Canucks announced on Sunday. Max Sasson was sent down on Saturday.

General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that D Victor Mancini and D Tom Willander have been assigned to Abbotsford (AHL).

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 5, 2025

With Monday’s 2 p.m. PDT roster deadline looming, the Canucks are now down to the maximum 23 players (14 forwards, seven defencemen, two goalies), plus Nils Höglander, who is on injured reserve.

That’s good news for youngsters like Braeden Cootes and Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who are still on the NHL roster. Same goes for bubble forwards like Arshdeep Bains, Linus Karlsson, and Aatu Räty, who each need waivers to be sent to Abbotsford, but are still in Vancouver.

On defence, it appears Elias Pettersson and Pierre-Olivier Joseph will start the season in the NHL.

Cootes was the surprise of training camp. Not many picked the 18-year-old rookie to make the team at such a young age, but the 2025 first-rounder earned a spot.

Lekkerimäki also wasn’t assured of a spot coming into camp, but the 21-year-old likely cemented his spot after a two-goal game against the Edmonton Oilers in Friday’s preseason finale.

We likely haven’t seen the last of Mancini, who had an impressive showing in camp. It makes sense to give the 23-year-old minutes in Abbotsford rather than sit in the press box in Vancouver.

The Canucks begin the season on Thursday, starting with a home game against the Calgary Flames.

Canucks’ opening-night roster

Assuming no roster changes before Monday’s deadline, this will be the Canucks’ opening-night roster:

Forwards (14)

Elias Pettersson
Brock Boeser
Jake DeBrusk
Conor Garland
Evander Kane
Filip Chytil
Teddy Blueger
Kiefer Sherwood
Drew O’Connor
Aatu Räty
Braeden Cootes
Jonathan Lekkerimäki
Arshdeep Bains
Linus Karlsson

Defencemen (7)

Quinn Hughes
Filip Hronek
Marcus Pettersson
Tyler Myers
Derek Forbort
Elias Pettersson
Pierre-Olivier Joseph

Goaltenders (2)

Thatcher Demko
Kevin Lankinen

You might also like:Foote compliments Lekkerimäki’s complete game, suggesting Canucks roster spot is next