Bitz injury complicates trade strategy
Timing of latest hip ailment puts forward’s future in doubt and hamstrings GM
NASHVILLE
The Vancouver Canucks have their man. But can they keep him in the lineup?
Byron Bitz so perfectly seemed to fill the Canucks’ need for more size, grit and toughness among their bottom six forwards that his unheralded acquisition last summer by general manager Mike Gillis seemed an act of brilliant prescience.
Bitz can skate and handle the puck, and hit and fight and does so willingly. He is probably a better depth player than anybody Gillis could pick up — without an exorbitant cost — at the National Hockey League trading deadline.
But with that deadline looming Monday, Bitz was not only absent from the Canuck lineup here Tuesday against the Nashville Predators, he was unable to skate in the morning due to soreness in his hip and groin area. And that has alarm bells ringing within the organization because the 27- year- old has had four abdominal surgeries in his career, including three in the last two years, as well as a major operation on his hip to repair a torn labrum and shave bone around the socket.
The feel- good story of the Canucks’ season is suddenly causing much concern to a team that must decide this week if it can rely on Bitz and, if not, alter its deadline priorities. “We’re hopeful that he will be healthy,” Gillis said Tuesday from Vancouver, where he was taking and making trade calls. “But you’re asking me to look into a crystal ball, which I can’t do. I’m kind of at the mercy of the next day or two to find out how he’s feeling.
“He’s had surgery on that area, but I don’t know any more than that. We’re being pretty conservative with him, like we are with everybody, but I can’t answer that [ question about his long- term health].
“That’s why I’m going to wait and see what information we get. I’ll see what the reports are, and then we’ll make a decision.”
Earlier, after Bitz was the only Canuck on the road trip who didn’t take the morning skate, coach Alain Vigneault admitted the timing of the player’s injury is especially difficult.
“It’s a complicated time of year that way,” Vigneault said of the looming deadline. “Especially with a guy whose past history, as far as him being healthy, is not very good. It’s making it a little bit more challenging for him and for us right now. Again, I don’t want to over- react on this. This might just be something real minor and come tomorrow he might be able to practise and feel real good again. We’ll see how he responds.”
Asked about the level of concern for Bitz, Vigneault said: “I think on his part, on a personal level, there has to be some concern. He has played a couple of games in Chicago [ in the American League] and he comes here and he plays five games. Then all of a sudden, the body feels some pain and then he can’t play any more. “For us, it’s a big question.” Signed in July, 25 days into free agency when few other teams showed interest in a player who was hurt all of last season, Bitz had the last of his sports hernia operations in September and was finally able to play in January.
After sitting out nearly 22 months, Bitz played 10 games for the Chicago Wolves before being recalled Feb. 3 by the Canucks. He had four points in seven games and recorded 14 penalty minutes, most of those in two fights against respected Colorado Avalanche enforcer Cody Mcleod.
Although the team has never admitted publicly that it lacked toughness in the Stanley Cup Final loss to the Boston Bruins last June, Gillis made it a priority to collect players last summer who could provide more bite to the depth positions.
Tough minor- leaguer Steve Pinizzotto was signed as a free agent but suffered a pre- season shoulder injury that later required year- ending surgery. Aaron Volpatti made the team but also was lost for the season to a shoulder injury. Dale Weiss was claimed on waivers but has spells where he lacks a physical presence. Energy player Mike Duco has significant limitations.
Bitz was easily the most impactful of the newcomers, drawing praise last Saturday from CBC commentator Don Cherry, who said the Canucks were now in the same class physically as the Boston Bruins and Eastern Conference- leading New York Rangers.
Bitz helped set up a goal that night and logged 11: 10 of ice time in the 6- 2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. But he hasn’t played since.
Typically, the Canucks prohibit interviews with injured players. But Bitz said after his last surgery that he didn’t think his body or career could withstand another major setback.
The next few days are critical.
The Canucks were scheduled to practise Wednesday in Nashville before travelling to Detroit for Thursday’s showdown against the Red Wings. Vancouver’s last game before the trade deadline is Sunday against the Dallas Stars. The road trip ends Tuesday against the Phoenix Coyotes.
Facing steep asking prices in a sellers’ market, Gillis may not deal for another role player even if the medical outlook for Bitz worsens.
“I don’t feel the compelling need to do that, but you never know what comes your way,” Gillis said.
“We’ll see. I’m comfortable with what we have. I think this deadline could be very different than previous ones for a lot of reasons. That’s why we did the David Booth trade when we did [ in October]. You can’t manufacture things; either they’re going to be there or not be there.”
The same goes for Bitz.