Canucks relieved Boeser’s foot injury minor
“It’s a relief.” In three words, Jim Benning echoed the emotions of not only the Vancouver Canucks, but the entire provincial hockey populace Monday. When a CT scan (computerized axial tomography) earlier in the day revealed that Calder Trophy front-runner Brock Boeser suffered a bone bruise – and not a feared foot fracture after blocking a Mark Giordano shot Sunday – it turned angst into anticipation.
Knowing the hotshot rookie will soon resume his remarkable National Hockey League season is a boost to the goal-starved club, a fan base that has been entertained, engaged and enamoured with the humble winger and, of course, the general manager.
“He felt better when he got up this morning and it (injury) is more day-to-day than weekto-week for his return,” added Benning. “We can’t afford to lose a player like that.”
There’s no immediate timeline for Boeser’s return, but he could sit out Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday games and be ready for the first post-Christmas test on Dec. 28 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Before Boeser received the encouraging diagnosis, his NHL peers were reaching out. Brendan Gallagher was feeling for Boeser because he has felt significant shot-blocking pain.
The Montreal Canadiens bulldog winger dropped in front of a Johnny Boychuk slapper in November of 2015, fracturing two fingers on his left hand. He required surgery and was sidelined for 29 games.
So it’s not surprising that the former Vancouver Giants standout admires Boeser. The rookie’s willingness to sacrifice his body for the greater good has resonated throughout the league because it’s about more than the points. It’s about winning.
The Canucks’ hotshot is the club’s leading scorer with 30 points (17-13) in 32 games and has grown his defensive game. The Giordano wrist shot struck the winger at the top of his left skate and he crawled to the bench in excruciating pain. He was spotted post game on crutches and wearing a walking boot and everybody feared the worst and admired the shot-blocking bravado.
“An unbelievable player and that (shot blocking) will go a long way with his teammates,” said Gallagher, who leads the Canadiens with 13 goals and is on pace for a career-high 32. “I never really measure my success by goals, assists and points, there’s a lot that goes into it. You want to be accountable to your teammates and all the little things that help you win.”
From his perch, Benning couldn’t believe what he was seeing Sunday when Boeser struggled to get off the ice.
“That was tough,” he recalled. “He has been playing so well for us. When it happened, I thought: ‘This can’t be happening.’”
Boeser is leading every offensive rookie category and his 19 power play points (5-14) rejuvenated a sour special-teams when he was promoted to the first unit Nov. 14 in Los Angeles. The club was operating at 14.1 per cent efficiency and it now fifth at 21.8 per cent.
In Boeser’s absence, the Canucks have recalled winger Reid Boucher from the Utica Comets. The 24-year-old is leading the American Hockey League affiliate with 25 points (13-12), is playing the power play and penalty kill and has taken just three minors penalties.
It’s not a stretch to suggest that a guy who managed five goals in 27 games with the Canucks last season – and showed off one of the better releases on the club – should simply slot in to replace Boeser, whose quick, heavy and accurate wrister has been compared to Mike Bossy and Brett Hull.
“When we met with him at the exit meeting, we challenged him to put the work in and he came in fit,” Benning said of Boucher, who’s on an expiring one-year, one-way deal. “It has translated. He’s getting in on the forecheck and he has been physical.
“He always had the skill and could score. But his overall game has improved and we’ll see where he’s at.”
Where the Canucks are at is a different story.
Their entire emerging first line is still sidelined – Sven Baertschi (jaw), Bo Horvat (foot) and Boeser – and when you add Brandon Sutter and Erik Gudbranson (upper body) and Chris Tanev (groin), the inability to win faceoffs, be better on the penalty kill and score at even strength – just 51 goals to be ranked 28th – is magnified. And that’s without getting into spotty goaltending or being without Boeser for a while.
“Nobody is going to feel sorry for us and we can’t feel sorry for ourselves,” added Benning. “We’re going to have to figure out a way. We want to be competitive until we start getting some players back. But I’m not trading any of our young players or giving away draft picks because that’s the future of the organization.”
Benning had recently been looking to add a versatile top-nine forward to help bridge the gap until Horvat and Baertschi returned from injury.
“I was talking to teams, but there wasn’t anything imminent,” said Benning. “We win in Nashville, we beat Toronto and Carolina and as a group, I thought we were getting that confidence and swagger to compete hard every night.”
It’s not all bad because there is more hope on the horizon.
Centre Elias Pettersson, the fifthoverall pick in June, is impressing in the Swedish Elite League and has 35 points (11-24) in his first 26 games. Pretty impressive for a slight puck magician playing against men. Adam Gaudette, a fifth-round selection in 2015, had 24 points (12-12) in his first 17 NCAA games in his third year at Northeastern after a stellar 52 points (26-26) in 37 games as a sophomore. He’s expected to turn pro after this season.
“We’re going to have to figure out a way. We want to be competitive until we start getting some players back. But I’m not trading any of our young players or giving away draft picks because that’s the future of the organization.” — Jim Benning, Canucks GM