It hasn’t been the season the Abbotsford Canucks had hoped for following their Calder Cup Championship.

Whether it’s been the graduates from last year’s successful run or the various injuries Abbotsford has had to deal with, the 2025-26 season has been tough for Manny Malhotra and his coaching staff.

While goaltending has not been the issue, the graduation and inevitable trade of Arturs Silovs could be looked at as a talking point. However, the key piece of the Silovs return has not been available for the AHL Canucks.

Chase Stillman, the 29th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Draft, was meant to make an impact and fill an important roster spot for the Abbotsford Canucks as a part of the Silovs trade. However, an injury in late October has kept him out of the lineup for most of the season.

Stillman, 22, picked up an assist on opening night for Abbotsford. In the following five games, he was held without a point before he was injured on October 28 against the Calgary Wranglers. Dealing with an undisclosed injury for over three months, Stillman finally made his return to the Canucks lineup on Saturday, February 14, in a 2-1 victory over the Ontario Reign.

The St. Louis, Missouri, native shared details of his injuries and the process he dealt with in returning:

“I’ve never been on long-term injured reserve during the season; don’t recommend it,” Stillman laughed, keeping the situation light. “It was such a fluke accident. I ended up breaking my fibula against the Calgary Wranglers. It was a long time. I was super fortunate that everybody I talked to needed surgery. Mine didn’t have a spiral; it didn’t break all the way through, just broke in two places. So, yeah, it was a long time, but our strength guy did a great job getting me feeling good, feeling in shape, and I really feel like I didn’t miss a step out there tonight.”

Being out of the lineup for such a long period can take a toll on a player as they get back to top speed of professional hockey. However, Stillman was ready for action and had himself prepared to compete with his teammates:

“I actually felt pretty good,” Stillman said. “It’s been a long time. Just a lot of excitement. I was so excited to be back. Even just getting back into practice, seeing the guys, what a number that does to how good you feel. There’s nothing like strapping up to battle with the fellas.”

One thing that is clear from speaking with Stillman is that his character is felt in the locker room, whether he was in the lineup or not.

In his return to the Abbotsford lineup, Stillman was noticeable. He didn’t find himself on the scoresheet; however, Stillman made his impact. The 6’1″, 185-lb winger threw his body every opportunity he got; he was heavy on the forecheck and had multiple chances.

His efforts were not dismissed by Head Coach Manny Malhotra:

“I thought, for missing the amount of time that he did, he had an impact on the game,” Malhotra said. “He had some quality minutes for us. He used his assets to his advantage. Obviously, he skates really well. He was able to transport the puck for us quite a bit. Took the puck to the rack a couple of times. But what I like about his game tonight, he didn’t overcomplicate things. He kept things really simple, like I said, he used his assets to the best of his ability, and he was an impact player for us tonight.

“Just to see him persevere over the last couple of months of rehab and just working himself back into game shape and grinding out in the gym. The guys were happy for him to see him back in the lineup, and he brought a lot of that energy and excitement just to be back in, and that helped us out a lot tonight.”

Having just been acquired over the summer, Stillman hasn’t had a substantial opportunity to show his abilities to Canucks fans.

During training camp, Stillman was aggressive in one-on-one drills and showcased a heavy shot. And while he may not be NHL-ready yet, there is a lot of potential in his game that could translate to the big leagues.

With only seven games now in the organization, Stillman informed Canucks fans on the type of player they should expect from him as he develops night in and night out:

“I would say I’m a little bit of a Swiss Army knife,” Stillman shared. “I play hard in everything I do. I like to do things at top speed. I think a bring an element of skill to the game. I would say I’m an elite passer. I like passing the puck and scoring goals as well. I had my chances tonight; I just missed. Ultimately, I play hard, and I’m a pest to play against, and I like to think I make the players around me better.”

Whether or not the Abbotsford Canucks can turn their season around following the All-Star Break, watching Stillman and his development will be something Canucks fans should be intrigued with down the stretch.

Watch the full media availability postgame from February’s 14 win over the Ontario win below: