Edler focusing on his health, not future
Pending free agent being eased into lineup after suffering knee injury against Golden Knights
Alex Edler’s obvious focus is on the next game after returning Saturday from a medial collateral knee sprain that sidelined the Vancouver Canucks defenceman for 15 games.
However, the future is never really that far off when your contract is expiring — even though it includes a no-trade clause — and Edler’s value to the NHL club was evident while sidelined. There’s nothing fancy in the 32-year-old’s game, but his ability to defend and do the dirty work along the walls and in the slot carries value. So does running the power play.
However, in an effort to stock the rebuild, the Canucks could ask Edler to waive his no-trade clause and move him at the trade deadline for a draft pick. They could then circle back and re-sign the unrestricted free agent in the off-season, especially if Olli Juolevi isn’t ready to make the NHL leap. The fifth-overall selection in the 2016 draft was headed to Vancouver to have his bothersome knee looked at after compiling 13 points in 18 games with the AHL’s Utica Comets.
There are also the expiring contracts of Michael Del Zotto and Derrick Pouliot — and Ben Hutton, who has rejuvenated his career — and the promise of Quinn Hughes to factor into what may occur next fall.
“I’ve always said that I like it here,” Edler said Monday. “But whatever happens, happens.”
Edler showed Saturday that even in 16:18 of measured minutes to ease his re-insertment — he’s averaging 21:47 this season — he was a factor in a pairing with Alex Biega to keep the Kings at bay.
“I tried to keep it short and simple, not get caught out there and work my way back into it,” said Edler. “The knee is fine. Even weeks or months after you sprain your MCL, you can tweak it. And as long as it goes away quickly, it’s all right. I just have to strengthen everything around that knee.”
Eder was injured Oct. 24 in Las Vegas. Midway through the first period, he got tangled up in the offensive zone with Golden Knights winger Max Pacioretty and fell awkwardly to the ice. And when the play went back into the Canucks zone, Edler absorbed a heavy sideboards hit from Pacioretty. But the first fall did the damage. Edler would play just five shifts and log 3:10 before calling it a night.
He was leading the NHL with 39 blocked shots.