Vancouver Canucks forward Alex Burrows (file photo)ANDY CLARK/Reuters
One man returns, four others will be away for a while.
The Canucks, facing the Washington Capitals at home Monday night, welcome back Alex Burrows to the team's lineup, after he was injured blocking a shot in the first game of the season. But as Burrows returns, coach John Tortorella revealed updates for significant injuries the team absorbed during its successful seven-game road trip.
- Winger Jannik Hansen is out three-to-four weeks.
- Winger David Booth is out two weeks.
- Depth forward Dale Weise is out three-to-four weeks.
Details of the injuries were not disclosed. Tortorella also provided an update on second-year centre Jordan Schroeder, who was injured in the preseason blocking a puck. Seen on Monday at Rogers Arena hobbling in a full leg cast, Schroeder is getting surgery to insert a pin in his ankle. He will be out two months, said Tortorella.
What it means is third and fourth lines populated by some unknowns. The fourth line will feature players such as 23-year-old Darren Archibald, who has played his first National Hockey League game in St. Louis last Friday. Jeremy Welsh, 25, will centre the line, having played his first four NHL games this year. Defenceman Yannick Weber will be again on the wing.
It also means that Tortorella will continue to lean heavily on his top names. Ryan Kesler, Henrik Sedin, and Daniel Sedin are ranked second, third and fourth in the NHL among forwards in average time on ice per game, behind only Sidney Crosby, and all three playing more than 22 minutes a night, about three additional minutes per game compared with last year.
Sedin, Sedin, and Kesler will remain the first line, as they have been for more than a week now.
"These guys are well-conditioned athletes," said Tortorella of his deployment, indicating there is no plan to change it. "They thrive."
Burrows is on the second line, centred by Mike Santorelli, with Chris Higgins on the other wing. The third line is Brad Richardson with Zack Kassian and Tom Sestito.
David Ebner