Canucks call up ex-Maple Leaf ahead of game against his former team
Filip Chytil made it to seven games before he got injured again. He’s now expected to miss at least three games.
After taking a heavy hit from San Jose Sharks defenceman Darnell Nurse, the 27-year-old centre missed practice on Friday to be evaluated to see if he had aggravated his preseason shoulder injury.
Evidently, that evaluation didn’t go well, as Chytil was placed on Injured Reserve. That will require him to miss at least seven days.
With Chytil out, the Canucks need a centre, so they turned to their AHL affiliate, calling up Jacob Quillan from the Abbotsford Canucks.
The Canucks acquired Quillan from the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of the Aatu Räty trade. Since then, Quillan has thrived in Abbotsford.
Quillan has a point in every game with Abbotsford, tallying five goals and seven points in five games, including a hat trick against the Calgary Wranglers.
Assuming Quillan gets into the lineup on Saturday, his first game with the Vancouver Canucks will come against his former team.
The 24-year-old centre appeared in 24 games with the Maple Leafs, tallying three points. He was much more productive in the AHL, with 36 points in 40 games last season, though he was shifted from centre to left wing.
While Quillan has been a first-line forward in Abbotsford, he has the speed to potentially play on an energy line in an NHL bottom-six. He may get that chance now with Chytil injured.
Chytil was playing a large role for the Canucks, playing the most minutes of his career, and leading all forwards in ice time at even strength. The Canucks will need other centres, including Quillan, to step up.
“Any time a guy that takes that many minutes in the lineup is out, it’s on the group to raise the level and contribute a little bit more,” said head coach Manny Malhotra. “Especially down the middle, those are some valuable minutes, obviously, and minutes that we rely on heavily.”