Injury Update: Vancouver Canucks Complete Roster Transaction with Defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph
Photo credit: Bob Frid - Imagn Images.
The Vancouver Canucks have made a big announcement regarding defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph ahead of Thursday night's game against the Dallas Stars.
After a tough start to the 2025-26 season, the Vancouver Canucks will be back in action tonight as they begin a five-game road trip in the Lone Star State against a familiar face - Casey DeSmith and the Dallas Stars.
Adam Foote's group has been dealing with some injury issues over the last few weeks including to forward Nils Hoglander and defenseman Derek Forbort, who was placed on injured reserve yesterday, retroactive to October 11th.
One face that Vancouver Canucks fans have yet to see in the regular season is defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph, but that will change very soon after an announcement from the club on Thursday.
Vancouver Canucks make a big announcement on defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph
After Adam Foote announced yesterday that Pierre-Olivier Joseph, and Teddy Blueger, would accompany the team on their road trip, the Canucks shared today that they've activated the Quebec-born defenseman off injured reserve.
"General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that D Pierre-Olivier Joseph has been activated from injured reserve." the Canucks said.
Joseph, 26, became an unrestricted free agent on Canada Day after not being issued a qualifying offer by the Pittsburgh Penguins and after weighing his options, he decided that joining the Vancouver Canucks on a one-year deal was the best move for his career right now.
In 194 career NHL games thus far with the Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues, the Laval native has 40 points (eight goals, 32 assists), 111 penalty minutes and is a minus-18.
Lineup changes for Thursday's game against the Dallas Stars
While Joseph is "back", he won't be making his regular season debut tonight against the Dallas Stars as Victor Mancini will draw into the lineup in place of the injured Derek Forbort and play on the third pairing alongside Elias Pettersson.
Following practice yesterday, Adam Foote hinted at the possibility of some changes to the forward group and he followed through on that today.
Elias Pettersson will remain on the top line and will be flanked by Drew O'Connor and Conor Garland, while Filip Chytil will center Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser on the second line.
Vancouver's third line tonight will feature Aatu Raty down the middle, with Evander Kane and Kiefer Sherwood on the wings and the biggest changes of them all will be seen on the team's fourth trio.
Max Sasson, who was called up yesterday to replace Braeden Cootes on the NHL roster, will center the fourth line and is joined by Arshdeep Bain & Linus Karlsson, who is making his season debut, while Jonathan Lekkerimaki will be a healthy scratch.
Puck drop for tonight's game is set for 5 p.m. PT and can be viewed nationally across Canada on Sportsnet One.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 16 | 629 ANSWERS Injury Update: Vancouver Canucks Complete Roster Transaction with Defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph Will Pierre-Olivier Joseph make his Vancouver Canucks debut during their five-game road trip? | ||
| Yes | 342 | 54.4 % |
| No | 287 | 45.6 % |
| List of polls | ||