Vancouver Canucks Prospect Abruptly Decides to Return Home to Europe After One Season in North America
A Vancouver Canucks prospect is returning to Europe for the 2025-26 season to continue his development after a year in North America in the Canadian Hockey League.
The Vancouver Canucks wrapped up their annual Development Camp late last week late last week and fans were given an up-close look at some of the prospects in the team's system including 2025 first rounder Braeden Cootes and 24-year-old forward Ilya Safonov, who was traded to the club in late-June by the Chicago Blackhawks.
With Vancouver's prospects now off to enjoy their summer before returning for Rookie Camp in early September, one member of the organization likely won't be around for that as he's heading back to his club in Switzerland after spending this past season in the QMJHL.
Vancouver Canucks prospect returning to Europe after one year in CHL
During a recent appearance on the 100% Canucks podcast with Landon Ferraro and John Shannon, Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin reveled that defensive prospect Basile Sansonnens will be heading back to Lausanne HC in Switzerland to continue his development.
Sansonnens will be joined in Lausanne by former Vancouver Canucks defenseman Erik Brannstrom, who signed a three-year contract with them back at the end of May.
"After a year with the Rimouski Océanic, he returns to Switzerland to play alongside Erik Brännström for Lausanne HC." Dave Hall of Canucks Army said on X.
Sansonnens, 18, was selected by the QMJHL's Rimouski Oceanic in the first round of the 2024 CHL Import Draft and officially signed with the club in August of last year, with Lausanne HC saying that the blueliner would be returning to them for the 2025-26 season.
"Basile is part of the foundation of our long-term project. This season in Canada will allow him to continue to develop and return next year with an important place in our first team.
Rimouski is the right place for him this year, the Oceanic will host the Memorial Cup and the team has an ambitious project with high-quality players and staff." Lausanne HC GM John Fust said last year.
Rimouski is the right place for him this year, the Oceanic will host the Memorial Cup and the team has an ambitious project with high-quality players and staff." Lausanne HC GM John Fust said last year.
Returning to his home country to face much tougher competition in one of the best leagues in all of Europe is a really smart decision for Basile Sansonnens, who had 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in 54 games during the regular season for Rimouski.
Lausanne HC is in a very good place for the 2025-26 season, with a roster featuring former NHLers Dominik Kahun, Sami Niku, Drake Caggiula, Austin Czarnik, along with a decent goaltending tandem of Connor Hughes and Kevin Pasche.
Not only will Sansonnens have a good opportunity at winning the league title with Lausanne HC next season, the team also has their sights set on taking home the Champions Hockey League, where they'll be facing other top teams from around Europe - another great chance for the Canucks prospect to play meaningful hockey against tougher competition.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 6 | 1408 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks Prospect Abruptly Decides to Return Home to Europe After One Season in North America Do you think returning to Europe is a good move for Basile Sansonnens' developement? | ||
| Yes, Switzerland's top league is one of the best | 979 | 69.5 % |
| No, he should've stayed in the CHL | 429 | 30.5 % |
| List of polls | ||