The Vancouver Canucks iced a lineup resembling what they could deploy on opening night in Thursday’s preseason game against Edmonton, yet lost 2-1 to an Oilers team missing Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, among several other NHL regulars.

More concerningly, the Canucks lost center Filip Chytil, whose skates clipped those of referee Riley Brace in the first period, sending him into the boards. He headed to the locker room shortly afterward and did not return.

Chytil and the referee collide along the boards.

Although both got up at first, Chytil has since gone to the locker room. pic.twitter.com/lKtFkqOy64

— Daily Faceoff Vancouver (@dfovancouver) September 25, 2026

“It's never good to see a guy leave the game,” head coach Manny Malhotra said afterward, per NHL.com. “We're having his shoulder looked at and we'll know more tomorrow after the imaging.”

Chytil has played only 12 games in the last 18 months amid a string of serious injuries. With Vancouver’s season opener against those same Oilers set for Sept. 29, his availability is now in question.

The 27-year-old suffered a concussion after a hit from Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson in October 2025. He returned for six games before the February Olympic break, then was shut down for the remainder of the season after a deflected puck struck him in the face during practice.

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It’s been a brutal stretch of injury luck for the center, who hasn’t played close to a full NHL season since 2022-23, when he was still with the New York Rangers.

“I don't even know what happened,” Canucks defenseman Luke Schenn said of Thursday’s injury, per Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre. “I honestly haven't talked to anyone, so I don't know if it's bad or just precautionary. But for me, he's been one of the most impressive players and eye-opening players for me in camp — just his skill set, the way he can control the puck.

“Even the practices before camp, I thought he was incredible. You think to yourself: if this guy can stay healthy, another big centerman with that skill set up the middle, he’s really going to help. Hopefully, it's nothing serious.”

That’s the hope across British Columbia as the Canucks await the results of Chytil’s shoulder imaging. He is expected to be an important part of Vancouver’s forward group in 2026-27.

Linus Karlsson scored Vancouver’s only goal Thursday. Nikita Tolopilo made 12 saves before being replaced by Chris Driedger, who stopped all six shots he faced in the third period.

The Canucks have one exhibition game remaining, hosting the Seattle Kraken on Saturday before traveling to Edmonton for opening night on Tuesday.