Vancouver Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra has been pleased with the improvement and effort displayed by his players throughout training camp in Penticton.
Published Sep 18, 2026 • 3 minute read
PENTICTON — NHL training camps were once notorious for fights. Players without a realistic chance of making the roster would test one another, with the belief that a rough, physical camp would prepare younger players for professional hockey.
The purpose was simple: make the players tougher.
Friday’s practice offered a less consequential but still spirited example. Max Sasson and Linus Karlsson, both good friends, pushed each other hard during drills and grinned when asked about the intensity. “Before the practice we talked about it,” Sasson grinned. “I like going against him. That’s definitely his best attribute: probably in my opinion one of the best in the world at those one-on-one battles in the corner. His stick is extremely strong. When you think you got a step, he’ll take it, and when he takes it, it’s extremely hard with his big body. I think he uses his IQ to kind of manoeuvre around. He’s incredible at it. He’s always been incredible at it.” Karlsson accepted the praise from his friend with a smile. The competitive edge carried into other drills, and Karlsson described those board battles as his foundation. “It’s my bread-and-butter,” the big Swede said. That intensity is what Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra wants to see. With only two days of practice before Saturday’s preseason opener in Seattle—and with each player limited to two preseason games under the new CBA—the team must establish its systems and put players into game action quickly. More practice time would be preferable, but the Canucks will continue refining their structure as the preseason unfolds. Sasson said the group’s three weeks of captain’s-skates sessions provided a strong physical base, even though the players are only beginning to absorb Malhotra’s defensive, breakout and forechecking details. “We’ve been battling against each other for three weeks … and it’s going to be fun to play something else,” Sasson added. “I think whoever gets to go to Seattle will be excited.” Veteran winger Drew O’Connor said Thursday and Friday’s sessions captured the right level of intensity. “I think at this time, without the grind of the season weighing down on you I always feel great,” the veteran winger said. “Even after like pre-season, I always feel awesome. Even after four hard practices, you feel so good because you don’t have that half a season that has built up of tiredness from playing so many games. I think it’s important to push ourselves at this point of the year, just to get ready for the season.” Malhotra said he was pleased with the team’s improvement from Thursday to Friday and with the overall standard of effort and execution. “Trying to cover all your systems in two days is a tall task, so we feel that we’ve done a good job of touching on everything just to make sure that they have an understanding of what it’s supposed to look like,” he said. “Our main focus tomorrow is going to be about the execution of the details that we’ve talked about, and then again the overall compete of the game.” The upcoming game also carries the anticipation of finally putting the summer’s work into action. Malhotra said the feeling is familiar from his playing days. “As coaches, we want to get into the action as well. It’s been a long time, it’s been a long summer of planning and putting together meetings and talking about the way we want it to look,” he said. “So yeah, we’re excited to get into that game environment again to see what it looks like.”
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