‘Load management’ could be key to keeping veteran Sutter in lineup
Twice this week Brandon Sutter was expected to make his return to the Canucks’ lineup.
Make that two times it didn’t happen.
The veteran centre declared himself ready to go on Thursday morning, barring a final clearance by Vancouver’s medical staff.
Despite his positive vibe, one that had numerous reporters walking out of the Canucks’ dressing room after Thursday’s morning skate thinking he was going to be back in action after missing the last 13 NHL games, it didn’t happen. He was a scratch against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Given the concerns about Sutter’s injured groin — he’s had hernia surgery twice and was sat down last month because of a groin strain — the upcoming schedule makes you wonder how the Canucks will want to manage him.
There are six games over the next nine days, including two this weekend. Given that the rest of the lineup is reasonably healthy, it’s unlikely Sutter would have the kind of minutes thrown at him in seasons past, a good thing for his recovering body.
Is it a case of “load management” coming to the NHL? That’s not a term used much around hockey, but last season we saw hints of it with the Canucks, with a few cases of players returning from injury only in the second game of backto-back contests.
Had Sutter returned on Thursday, he would have been looking at three games in four nights, a heavy load for a player who wants to play, but knows all too well what can happen when he’s pushed to the physical limit.
“It sucks sitting out,” Sutter said Monday, the first time it appeared he was ready to return. “Especially after last year.”
It makes sense that his delayed return appears to include a dose of extra caution by the Canucks, who have seen Sutter struggle with groin-related injuries in the past.
When he returns, Sutter will once again fill in as a depth player, not the top-six centre he was once pencilled in to be. Before he strained his groin, he had been playing some of his best hockey with the
Canucks. When he returns, whether it’s Saturday against the San Jose Sharks and their new coach Bob Boughner, or Sunday in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights, it’s more likely he’ll be playing on Jay Beagle’s wing.
Adam Gaudette has thrived while filling in for Sutter at centre on what’s now a third scoring line, with Antoine Roussel and Jake Virtanen on his wings.
“We’d better not lose a faceoff,” Jay Beagle joked this week about the pending return of his fellow centre and having him on the same line.
“We got to make sure that we’re doing a job, hopefully against the top line. That would be the matchup that we’d want to have and both thrive on that,” said Beagle.
“We’ve got two guys who can play the middle, and with our system, as soon as the faceoff happens, centre, wing it doesn’t matter,” he said. “Almost everyone system’s now has the first man back playing down low. There’s not much to the centre position and the wing position that’s set in stone anymore. It’s more once the draw happens, everyone runs a route.”
Activating Sutter was never a cap problem.
There are other things to ponder when it comes to the Canucks’ salary cap situation going forward, but in this case, activating Sutter can be achieved by placing Tyler Graovac and Tyler Motte on longterm injury reserve.
Graovac and Motte are at different stages in recovering from broken bones in their foot from blocking shots. Graovac remains in a walking boot and is using a scooter to get around, but Motte has returned to skating with the team, suggesting his return is imminent.
When Motte returns, that will push out a forward on the current roster, most likely Zack Macewen, who doesn’t require waivers to be sent to the AHL’S Utica Comets.
CHATFIELD OUT, BRISEBOIS IN
A new face hopped on the Canucks’ depth defenceman treadmill on Friday, as the team sent Jalen Chatfield back to the Comets in exchange for Guillaume Brisebois.
It was the second recall of the season for Chatfield, and while he spent nearly two weeks in The Show, he didn’t suit up for a single game and has yet to make his NHL debut.
The Canucks have been carrying a spare forward and defenceman all season, not wanting to be caught short in case of an illness or injury.
Brisebois took his NHL bow last season, skating in eight games for the Canucks. He didn’t register a point, and barring injury, it seems unlikely he’ll play for the Canucks this weekend.