Canucks Head Coach Manny Malhotra Reveals Why Jamie Oleksiak Was A Healthy Scratch Against The Rangers

Sunday's matchup against the New York Rangers featured a surprising lineup move. Defenceman Jamie Oleksiak was a healthy scratch while Guillaume Brisebois made his season debut. The move was surprising because experienced defenders like Oleksiak don't often get scratched in the NHL, especially when the team is in a rebuild. 

Oleksiak has had a tough start to the campaign. While he does have three points, the 33-year-old has been on the ice for 12 goals against at all strengths this year. After Sunday's loss to the Rangers, Head Coach Manny Malhotra spoke about the decision to scratch Oleksiak. 

"It was an opportunity to get (Brisebois) in the game," said Malhotra. "He has been sitting for a few weeks now. He did a great job of stepping in and making the most of this opportunity. For Jamie, it was just an opportunity to reset and watch the game. And the messaging for him is just getting back to what makes him an effective defenceman. That's simplifying his game, being physical and breaking us out. 

As for Brisebois, he was able to fill out the scoresheet during his first NHL game since January 2025. He recorded two shots, two hits and a blocked shot in 12:44 of ice time. Brisebois also finished the night with a penalty and a plus/minus rating of -3. 

How Malhotra balances his lineup for the rest of the season will be something to keep an eye on. He isn't afraid to healthy-scratch experienced players, as Oleksiak, Brendan Gallagher, and Luke Schenn have all now sat at least one game. With younger players pushing for spots, everyone on the team will need to ensure they bring their A-game every night. 

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