Vancouver Canucks News & Rumours: Demko, Chytil & Training Camp Decisions – The Hockey Writers – Vancouver Canucks

With the opening of training camp, every little piece of news seems a little more important. The Vancouver Canucks aren’t playing meaningful games yet, but new head coach Manny Malhotra and his staff already have a couple of questions to sort out. And, as usual at this time of year, not all of them have easy answers.

Goaltender Thatcher Demko’s recovery is one of the bigger ones. Filip Chytil‘s role is another. Neither situation necessarily signals a problem, but both remind us that training camp isn’t just about getting everybody ready for opening night. It is also when the Canucks start figuring out what the team is actually going to look like.

Demko’s Training Camp Status Leaves Canucks With Some Questions

Thatcher Demko will join the Canucks’ training camp in Penticton, but he won’t fully participate. He will be on the ice with his teammates as he continues to recover from hip surgery, but he won’t be among the main groups opening camp.

That’s encouraging, at least for now. Demko missed the end of the 2025-26 season after surgery, and the Canucks said last week there is still no timetable for his return. Getting on the ice is obviously part of the recovery process, but it doesn’t tell us when he will be ready to play games. Right now, his availability for the start of the regular season remains uncertain.

That means Kevin Lankinen, Chris Driedger and Nikita Tolopilo could all get more attention than expected during camp. Nobody in Vancouver wants to spend much time thinking about life without Demko in net, but that’s exactly why these early days matter. The Canucks need to know what they have behind him if his recovery takes longer than hoped. For now, Demko being on the ice is a positive step. The bigger question is when he can return as the Canucks’ No. 1 goaltender.

Chytil’s Position Is Still a Canucks Training Camp Question

Filip Chytil gives Malhotra another interesting decision to make. The Canucks head coach didn’t indicate Wednesday whether Chytil will play center or move to the wing this season. Instead, that decision will apparently be worked out during training camp and preseason action.

There are certainly reasons to be intrigued by the possibilities. Malhotra has already talked about Chytil’s combination of size and speed, and those are useful qualities whether he is playing in the middle or on the wing. The problem is that Vancouver didn’t get much of a look at him last season. He missed significant time because of upper-body and facial injuries and appeared in only 12 regular-season games, scoring three goals.

So there’s little point in reading too much into those numbers. The more interesting question is what Chytil looks like now that he is healthy and whether he can establish himself as a regular part of Vancouver’s forward group. If he can play center effectively, that gives Malhotra another option down the middle. If the coaching staff sees a better fit on the wing, that could change the way some of the other forward lines are put together.

What’s Next for the Canucks?

What I find interesting about both stories is that neither is really about September statistics. They’re about figuring out roles. Demko’s situation is about how quickly he can progress and what Vancouver does while it waits. Chytil’s is about finding the right spot for a player the Canucks haven’t seen enough of.

That’s what training camp is for. The roster may look pretty settled on paper, but some pieces still need to be in the right places. Demko’s recovery and Chytil’s position are two early questions to watch as the Canucks get ready for the season.