As expected, the Vancouver Canucks will be without both Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes for their Saturday matinee matchup with the Seattle Kraken. With the early start, the team didn’t have a morning skate, so Rick Tocchet made the official announcement during his pregame media availability shortly before 11 AM.

Following Friday’s practice, which both Hughes and Pettersson were absent for, Tocchet shared that both players were “doubtful” for Saturday’s game, but didn’t have any more of an update.

“It’s hard to speculate,” Tocchet said. “I don’t know if it’s day-to-day or week-to-week. That’s why they’re going to see their people.”

Pettersson exited early in the third period of the Canucks’ final game before the holiday break against the San Jose Sharks on Monday. The 25-year-old was having a great game before his departure, as he scored his first multi-goal game since March 19th of the 2023-24 season, which included a vintage Pettersson snipe from the half-wall on the power play.

Hughes was a game-time decision heading into that game, but elected to play. According to CanucksArmy’s Irfaan Gaffar, it’s a hand issue that is plaguing the Canucks’ captain.

The absences mean the Canucks will shake up their lines heading into today’s game vs. the Kraken. Up front, Jake DeBrusk moves up from his regular spot on Pettersson’s line to the top line with JT Miller and Brock Boeser. Dakota Joshua, Max Sasson, and Phil Di Giuseppe make up the fourth line.

On defence, Derek Forbort is expected to move up and skate on the Canucks’ top pairing alongside Tyler Myers. Carson Soucy stays with Noah Juulsen, and Erik Brännström slides back into the lineup to round out the third pairing alongside Vincent Desharnais.

The Kraken have struggled to score goals and win games as of late, but the task facing the Canucks Saturday afternoon is no doubt a tall one.

You can read our full game preview by clicking here!