It’s been a tough week for the Vancouver Canucks locker room, with leaders like Tyler Myers and Conor Garland shipped out the door in exchange for futures as the team transitions toward a rebuild. But it’s been especially tough for Canucks forward Max Sasson, who lost not only a friend and teammate, but also his landlord.

Garland was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets on the eve of trade deadline day in exchange for a third-round pick in 2026 and a second-round pick in 2028. Blue Jackets reporter for The Athletic, Aaron Portzline, spoke with Garland about his moving situation, to which the former-Canuck forward shared that Sasson lived with him “rent-free” and that he will be busy helping pack up his belongings.

CanucksArmy spoke with Sasson ahead of Monday’s game against the Ottawa Senators about Garland’s comments:

“So far, I’ve just had a few jobs,” Sasson told CanucksArmy. “I don’t know how serious he was or not. I think he told me later in the week he’s gonna give you a call, and [tell me] what I have to do. But he is right. I’ve been living rent-free. So you know, honestly, whatever he needs me to do, I will do it because he was very generous to let me stay with him.

“We’ve been texting. Honestly, we’re more so texting about just playing together in the future and stuff for him and myself. But he did say he will FaceTime me and give me a list of things to do, which I will happily do.”

Once the Canucks returned from the Olympic break, Sasson was held out of the lineup before the team made trades that would open up a spot for him on the depth chart. Since returning to the Canucks’ lineup, Sasson has been playing on the wing with Teddy Blueger and Linus Karlsson.

As a natural centreman, this was a change for the Birmingham, Michigan native, but he’s found success in his new position, with three points in the three games since moving to the wing.

“It’s been good,” Sasson responded when asked how the transition to wing has gone for him. “I played a little bit on the wing last year, and I feel comfortable there. I think, you know, it helps with the linemates, you know, reading off each other and putting me in good spots. But I feel good on the wing. And I feel that playing with [Blueger and Karlsson], I get in a lot of foot races, and you know, I like my chances when that happens.”

Sasson’s speed is one of the best attributes to his game. He has been able to use his speed to his advantage when one-on-one against a defender, as he did late in the game on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks when he flicked the puck past the defender, won the foot race, and iced the game with an empty-netter.

“If I am on the wing, I definitely feel that I probably have a little more energy going up the ice and being able to use my speed just with not having to grind so much in the D-zone,” Sasson said. “So, I think when I’m on the wing, you’ll probably see more of my speed element, you know, slashing over and getting to pucks and being the F1 on the forecheck. You know, I definitely feel good and comfortable playing there.”

At Monday’s morning skate, Sasson remained on a line with Blueger and Karlsson, and hopes to add to his hot streak against the team he made his NHL debut against, the Ottawa Senators, where he picked up his first NHL point.