September 17, 2026 | South Okanagan Events Centre | Penticton, BC
The Vancouver Canucks are back on the ice, and if Day 1 of training camp in Penticton is any indication of what this season is going to look like under new head coach Manny Malhotra, the Canucks faithful may have genuinely earned the right to feel good about what is coming.
I was boots on the ground at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Thursday for the first day of camp, and what I saw was a different energy than anything this group has put on display in recent memory. This was not the “going-through-the-motions” first day of camp that Canucks fans have grown familiar with. This was a team that came to work.
Malhotra Sets the Tone Immediately
The story of Day 1 begins and ends with Manny Malhotra, and the former Canucks centre wasted absolutely no time establishing exactly who is in charge of this group now.
Fifty-two players were split into two groups for separate on-ice sessions, and Malhotra was present, vocal, and commanding throughout both. At one point he blew his whistle, stopped play entirely, and shouted “Everyone. Here. Now!” Mild-mannered and measured in press conferences, Malhotra is a different animal on the ice. Sporting a white bucket, he commands attention the way only someone who has lived the game at the highest level can, and his coaching staff joined the players in line skates and bag skates throughout the day, setting the unmistakable tone that everyone in that building is in this together.
“I was pleased with the way things went,” Malhotra said after camp. “We talked about the balance of wanting the intensity to be high while teaching fundamentals and basics, things we need to get down pat day one. I thought there was a great balance of that.”
The players felt it too. New Canucks forward Jamie Oleksiak, who took a cut to the lip from the physical intensity of practice, described the atmosphere as “definitely a refreshing vibe coming in.” That is exactly the phrase you want to hear on Day 1 of a season that demands a fresh start.
The Lines: What We Saw
The line combinations Malhotra assembled on Day 1 are worth noting, with the standard caveat that training camp lines are fluid and subject to change before opening night. That said, here is what the ice told us on Thursday.
The most intriguing forward group on display was the combination of Braeden Cootes, Adam Novotný, and Arshdeep Bains — three young players skating together with a pace and physicality that immediately drew attention. Elias Pettersson skated on a line with Jake DeBrusk and Linus Karlsson, and the trio showed genuine chemistry from the opening whistle….could DeBrusk be the play driver that Pettersson needs?. The line of Cotter, Filip Chytil, and Brock Boeser gave the second session a veteran presence, while Liam Öhgren centred a line with Marco Rossi and Jonathan Lekkerimäki, the group that will have Canucks fans buzzing heading into Day 2. Yes, Malhotra has the BRO line split up initially….but that’s TBD.
On the blue line, Elias Pettersson was paired with Tom Willander, Zeev Buium skated alongside Luke Schenn, and Jamie Oleksiak drew Filip Hronek as his partner.
The Standouts: Players Who Caught the Eye
Liam Öhgren was one of the players of the day. He looked physically transformed…stronger, faster, and more confident than at any point in his NHL career to this point. His skating was a level above what we saw in the second half of last season, and the confidence he carried into every drill spoke to a player who spent his offseason doing exactly what needed to be done. The Canucks have a genuinely special player in Öhgren, and Day 1 of this training camp was the clearest evidence yet of what he is capable of becoming.
Braeden Cootes was noticeably bigger, stronger, and faster than he was a year ago, and crucially, he did not look out of place for a single moment. That is the most important thing you can say about a young player, that the moment did not overwhelm him. Cootes looked like he belonged, and on a Canucks roster that desperately needs its young players to take steps forward, that is an enormously encouraging sign.
Adam Novotný is a big, skilled kid who is going to demand attention over the next several days. The 2026 draft pick arrived in Penticton with size and skill that immediately stood out, and his combination with Cootes on the ice was one of the more interesting forward partnerships of the day. Keep a very close eye on him.
Zeev Buium was flying. There is no other word for it. The young defenceman was one of the fastest skaters on the ice during his session, generating speed through his edges that made the drill work look effortless. He is going to be extraordinarily fun to watch this season, and if Day 1 is any indication, he is ready to make a significant leap in his development.
Brendan Gallagher deserves a specific mention for setting the tone in Group A with his speed during drills and his work ethic throughout the session. Gallagher has been this player his entire career…the one who makes everyone around him work harder simply by refusing to take a single shift off, and he brought that identity to Penticton on day one without hesitation.
Filip Hronek was Hronek. That is the highest compliment available. He was physical in the corners throughout the session, particularly when defending against Elias Pettersson, and he brought the compete level and defensive intensity that makes him one of the most underappreciated players on this entire roster. Hronek works harder than almost anyone in that building and his leadership presence was felt from the opening whistle. The conversation around who the next Canucks captain should be is just beginning, but after what we saw on Thursday, Hronek’s name belongs in that discussion.
The Goaltending Picture
Thatcher Demko skated separately before the main group sessions and did not join either group on the ice. The Canucks are not offering much clarity on his status heading into the season, and the uncertainty around their franchise goaltender remains the biggest question mark hanging over this entire camp.
What was clear on Day 1 is that Kevin Lankinen looks to be the man in the crease, and he carried himself accordingly. Behind him, Nikita Tolopilo made an immediate impression, bigger than expected physically and sharp in every drill he participated in. There is a clear and meaningful gap between Lankinen and Tolopilo and the rest of the goaltending group in camp. Those two are the legitimate options. Everything else is depth.
The Verdict
Day 1 of Vancouver Canucks training camp delivered exactly what this franchise needed, a jolt of energy, a raised standard, and a clear message from the coaching staff. Malhotra lit a fire under this group from the opening whistle, and the players responded with effort and intensity…and dare i say they appeared to be having fun.
This is not a finished product. There are questions to answer, battles to be won, and a roster still finding its identity under a new coaching staff. But the foundation of something better was visible in Penticton on Thursday, and for a Canucks fanbase that has been waiting a long time for a reason to feel optimistic, Day 1 was a good start.
Day 2 is about to get underway. We will have more from Penticton shortly.
On-ice observations from Day 1 of Vancouver Canucks Training Camp at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton, BC, September 17, 2026.
— The Add List +