Vancouver Canucks Announce Departure of Fan-Favourite Defenseman Victor Mancini
Photo credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images
The Vancouver Canucks have announced the call up of a pair of players from the Abbotsford Canucks amid injury issues & have assigned a fan-favourite to the AHL.
While the Vancouver Canucks might have got the result they wanted on Sunday afternoon, walking away with two points after a 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals, the team lost a couple of key forwards due to injury.
Filip Chytil left the game towards the end of the first period after being on the reciving end of an open-ice hit from Tom Wilson, and he was joined a short while later by Jonathan Lekkerimaki after he appeared to hurt his shoulder/arm after making contact with Capitals blueliner Matt Roy.
Both Chytil and Lekkerimaki were placed on injured reserve on Monday morning by the Canucks and with the club set to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins tomorrow night, Patrik Allvin needed to bring up some reinforcements from AHL Abbotsford.
Vancouver Canucks complete roster moves, call up pair from Abbotsford
This morning, the Vancouver Canucks announced on social media that they've called up forward Joseph LaBate and defenseman Jimmy Schuldt from the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League.
In addition to the call ups, the Canucks have assigned defenseman Victor Mancini to the American Hockey League for the second time this season, which caused some backlash among fans earlier this month.
"General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today the following roster moves:
- D Victor Mancini has been assigned to Abbotsford (AHL).
- F Joseph LaBate and D Jimmy Schuldt have been recalled from Abbotsford." the Canucks said.
- D Victor Mancini has been assigned to Abbotsford (AHL).
- F Joseph LaBate and D Jimmy Schuldt have been recalled from Abbotsford." the Canucks said.
LaBate and Schuldt joined the Vancouver Canucks organization as unrestricted free agents back in early July, putting pen-to-paper on one-year, two-way contracts worth the league minimum of $775,000 US.
Jeff Paterson of Rink Wide: Vancouver shared an interesting note on social media this morning regarding Joseph LaBate, saying that if the 32-year-old draws into the lineup, it'll be his first NHL action in eight-and-a-half years, with his last game coming with the Canucks in March of 2027.
"if Joe LaBate gets into game action for #NHL #Canucks it will be 8.5 years between appearances for the team. Last played for Vancouver March 28, 2017 vs ANA" Jeff Paterson said.
LaBate has had a strong start to the 2025-26 campaign with Abbotsford, registering three points (two goals, one assist), eight penalty minutes and is a minus-three in four games, while Schuldt has gone point-less in four contest with four penalty minus and is a minus-two.
We'll have to wait until Tuesday to see what changes Adam Foote makes to his lineup as the club is set to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins at 4 p.m. PT on Sportsnet Pacific.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 20 | 804 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks Announce Departure of Fan-Favourite Defenseman Victor Mancini Do you think Joseph LaBate will play in his first NHL game in over eight years during one of Vancouver's two remaining contests on the road trip? | ||
| Yes | 562 | 69.9 % |
| No | 242 | 30.1 % |
| List of polls | ||