As expected, the Vancouver Canucks have recalled forward Max Sasson from the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks. General manager Patrik Allvin made the announcement on Wednesday morning.

The move comes after head coach Adam Foote shared at yesterday’s practice that the Canucks would be sending 2025 15th overall pick and training camp standout Braeden Cootes back to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL. Cootes surprised many with his play during camp and the preseason, and earned the right to make his NHL debut at just 18 years old. And while he didn’t necessarily play poorly, it became clear to Foote and the Canucks that going back to junior after a short taste of the NHL would be the best thing for Cootes’s development.

With Cootes gone, Sasson figures to fill in as the team’s fourth-line centre. The Canucks didn’t shake up their lines at practice on Tuesday, but Foote hinted at changes, mainly in the top six. We’d expect the Canucks’ lines to look something like this with Sasson in the mix:

DeBrusk-Chytil-Boeser
Kane-Pettersson-Garland
Bains-Räty-Sherwood
O’Connor-Sasson-Lekkerimäki

The Canucks get set to head out on the road for their first real road trip of the year after playing two games at home with one quick stop to Edmonton in between. The Canucks, 1-2 through three games so far, head to Dallas to take on the Stars on Thursday night before flying to Chicago to take on Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks on Friday night.

Sasson was one of the Canucks’ final cuts from camp, but ultimately was the odd man out of a battle that included him, Linus Karlsson, Aatu Räty, and Arshdeep Bains. Sasson’s waiver exemption certainly didn’t help his odds of making the NHL roster, but it was clear he’d be among the Canucks’ first choices for a call-up when they eventually needed to make one. Sasson, 25, has scored two goals through two games with the Abbotsford Canucks so far this season.

It will be interesting to see how long Sasson has a spot in the lineup, as Foote shared on Tuesday that the injured Teddy Blueger, who skated in a non-contact jersey at practice, would be making the trip with the team.