Canucks Release Five Restricted Free Agents as Roster Changes Continue

The Vancouver Canucks are actively reshaping their roster as they move forward into the offseason. In a significant decision, the club has announced that they will not be extending qualifying offers to five of their restricted free agents: forwards Jayden Grubbe, Nils Åman, Danila Klimovich, and Chase Stillman, along with defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph. As a result, all five players are set to enter free agency.

Among the released players, Pierre-Olivier Joseph stands out as the only one to have logged semi-consistent NHL minutes through the 2025–26 season. Joseph participated in 31 games with the Canucks, contributing a goal and six assists. A former first-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, he enjoyed his best NHL season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he recorded 21 points in 75 games. However, he has struggled to recapture that level of performance since.

Nils Åman is another name of note, having spent time at the NHL level this season. The forward, who previously played 68 games for the Canucks in the 2022–23 season, saw his NHL appearances dwindle this year, managing just two games—his lowest total in the past four years.

Danila Klimovich, a second-round pick from the 2021 NHL Draft, also finds himself on this list. He made the transition to the Abbotsford Canucks right after being drafted and has since spent five seasons in the AHL, where he tied the franchise record for career goals scored with 70. Despite his success in the minors, he was unable to secure a spot in Vancouver’s lineup.

Grubbe and Stillman were both acquired via trades within the past year. Grubbe joined the Canucks in March in exchange for Josh Bloom and played two games with Abbotsford, scoring once. Stillman was part of the deal that sent 2025 AHL Playoff MVP Artūrs Šilovs to the Penguins, along with a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. His tenure was marred by injuries, as he managed three goals and nine assists in 24 games with the AHL Canucks this past season.

These roster moves are part of a broader strategy for the Canucks, who also traded forward Nils Höglander to the Nashville Predators and welcomed Brendan Gallagher from the Montréal Canadiens on the same day. As the Canucks continue to navigate their offseason, fans can look forward to more updates and developments.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.