Bitz’s injury could raise trade-deadline questions

NASHVILLE — One can only guess what’s going through Byron Bitz’s head right now.

He hasn’t skated since playing 11 minutes against Toronto last Saturday night. The club is calling it a hip-flexor problem and given Bitz’s recent medical history, that’s got to be worrisome, both for the player and the team.

“I think on his part, on a personal level, there has to be some concern,” Alain Vigneault said Tuesday.

Bitz underwent four surgeries for groin and hip-joint tears and a sports hernia, which kept him out of hockey last season and this year, until he was able to join the Chicago Wolves after Christmas.

He played 10 games with Chicago before being called up and has played seven with the Canucks.

“Then all of a sudden the body feels some pain and then he can’t play,” Vigneault said. “For us, it’s a big question. I mean, the young man was playing real well, we really liked his contribution, and after [seven] games he’s got to sit out a couple of games.”

This is not a good time of year for Bitz to be a question mark. He fit in well, whether it was fighting Cody Mcleod, grinding on the fourth line or sending the Sedins sweet saucer passes.

If the Canucks could count on the 6-foot-5, 215-pound winger t down the stretch and in the playoffs it would mean a lot.

But with the trade deadline looming, Bitz being unavailable could affect what Mike Gillis does between now and Monday.

“It’s a complicated time of year, put it that way,” Vigneault said.

“But I don’t want to over-react. This might be just a minor setback.”