Just when the Canucks were getting healthy, the injury bug has bitten them hard.
The Canucks won 3-1 in Colorado last night, helping to leave a glimmer of hope for their playoff chances. Or so we thought.
Defenceman Alex Edler and centre Brandon Sutter both left the game with injuries and did not return. Today, we found out some more details from the most reliable insider in hockey.
Not great news on the injury front for VAN. Alex Edler (foot) and Brandon Sutter (jaw) have headed back home, both likely to miss time.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 10, 2016
Edler will get more imaging done on foot in VAN but initial sense is he could miss 2-3 weeks. Sutter apparently has a broken jaw. Ouch.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 10, 2016
The Canucks are razor thin on defensive depth as it is, and losing arguably their top defenceman will certainly hurt. Edler has 20 points in 52 games and leads all Canucks players in ice time. The 2-3 week time period will take right up until the trade deadline on February 29th.
Edler may have injured his foot on this Tyson Barrie shot from last night:
Alex Edler has gone to the dressing room (hasn't returned) after taking shot to ankle #Canucks pic.twitter.com/ofVWZsf9p1
— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) February 10, 2016
If Sutter is indeed out with a broken jaw, he should miss significant time. Dan Hamhuis just returned to the lineup with a broken jaw and missed nearly two months of hockey. That kind of time frame would take Sutter out of Vancouver’s lineup for nearly the remainder of the regular season.
Sutter, who just returned from a long-term injury himself, has 9 points in 20 games this season.
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With Edler out of the lineup, the Canucks may recall defenceman Yannick Weber from Utica. Sutter’s absence should open a door for rookie Jared McCann, who has been a healthy scratch of late.
The Canucks are 4 points back of a playoff spot and will play the Coyotes tonight in Arizona.
