Canucks call up 2 players from Utica as injuries pile up

It’s a new season, but the same old story when it comes to injuries and the Vancouver Canucks.

Brandon Sutter is the latest player to get hurt, reportedly suffering a separated shoulder during Monday’s win against the Minnesota Wild. It’s expected to keep him out 4-6 weeks.

Sutter with the AC separation-esque limp arm as he skates to the bench pic.twitter.com/V4n8HH51Og

— Wyatt Arndt (@TheStanchion) October 30, 2018

The Canucks lost Alex Edler, Chris Tanev, and Sven Baertschi in the same game last week. None of them have returned to the lineup since.

Tanev’s injury was initially thought to be minor, but he has joined Edler, Jay Beagle, and Anders Nilsson on injured reserve. Beagle is still out with a broken hand, suffered when blocking a shot. Nilsson has a broken finger in his blocker hand, injuring it in practice.

So yeah, the list of walking wounded is lengthy just 13 games into the season – and we still haven’t mentioned Brock Boeser or Elias Pettersson, who both returned Saturday from their own ailments.

In response, the Canucks called up two players from Utica on Tuesday, as Brendan Gaunce and Darren Archibald are on their way up. Gaunce, by the way, recently returned from his own injury suffered in the AHL.

The two Comets call ups are in addition to Adam Gaudette, Alex Biega, and Guillaume Brisebois, who have all spent time in Utica this season.

With Nilsson out, goaltender Richard Bachman backed up Jacob Markstrom on Monday. If you’re wondering where Thatcher Demko is, well, he’s injured too.

Demko suffered a concussion during preseason more than a month ago and hasn’t played a game since.

The Canucks (7-6-0) are currently in a first-place tie with the San Jose Sharks in the Pacific Division, so you have to say they’ve performed exceptionally well under the circumstances. You have to wonder how long that’ll last though, especially given their injuries to premium positions on defence and at centre.

Vancouver has two more games left on their homestand before beginning a six-game eastern road trip next week.

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