Driving ahead with no Bo
Canucks captain hopes pain in right leg has subsided by next injury evaluation
Time is supposed to heal all wounds — sooner or later — and the quicker the better for Bo Horvat.
For the Vancouver Canucks' captain, the current two-week period before additional assessment of a suspected hairline fracture of his lower right leg suffered Thursday, when struck by Arizona Coyote Anton Stralman's shot, is critical for significant improvement and some hope.
At best, reduction of swelling and pain would indicate the centre, who has 12 points (9-3) in his last dozen games and 26 points (17-9) in the previous 24, plus a team-leading and career-high 31 goals, could possibly return for the National Hockey League post-season. But the Canucks would have to beat odds that are becoming greater with every Dallas, Las Vegas and Los Angeles win.
At the worst, the second injury evaluation will conclude swelling and pain remain and that Horvat faces the customary four to six weeks of off-season recovery.
Dr. Harjas Grewal is a B.C. physician and ardent hockey analyst. He has studied physical medicine, completed a rehabilitation residency and was a medical assistant at the 2019 world junior hockey championship in Vancouver and Victoria. He's also a former varsity soccer player at the University of Northern B.C. in Prince George.
Grewal adds medical clarity to injuries because the NHL doesn't release details and keeps them to upper and lower-body ailments. As for Horvat, he sees hope.
“Stay in the walking boot to bring down the swelling and until he can walk pain free,” Dr. Grewal told Postmedia.
“In repeat imaging, if there is evidence of healing, he can remove the boot. And if he's walking pain free and there is no swelling, that's good news.
“In reality, you'd wait for the fracture to fully heal before skating, but Horvat is a pro. And if the Canucks squeeze into the playoffs, then he could theoretically skate and play with partial healing.
“Overall, there are (injury) nuances we aren't aware of. But as long as there is no other damage, he can progress to play in two weeks if he wants to.
“The beauty of hockey is your foot is in a boot and you can skate without full healing, whereas an NBA player or NFL receiver wouldn't be able to do all their sports-specific movements.”
Regardless of Horvat's next injury assessment, he has silenced critics in a season that included a slow return from a COVID -19 diagnosis, speculation about his impact as a leader and, ultimately, his ability to deliver down the stretch drive. At 27, he's entering his prime with a club-leading 13 power play goals, penalty kill presence and teambest 57 per cent faceoff efficiency.
With another year left on his contract extension at a US$5.5-million salary cap hit and $4.45 million in total salary on a front-loaded deal, the new hockey operations department will have to assess his longterm value.
It's the same for J.T. Miller. He's 29 and took massive career-best totals for goals (29) and assists (62) into Monday's meeting with the Stars. He has another year remaining at a US$5.25-million cap hit and $4.5 million in total salary. And then there's Boeser, 25, a restricted free agent with a US$7.5-million qualifying offer.
As for Horvat, he was asked prior to his injury if we've seen the peak version of the centre.
“You'd like to think not,” he said. “You like to think you can get better all the time, and if you're satisfied there's something wrong. I'm playing some pretty good hockey and at this time of year you have to. I'm feeling confident with the puck and it helps when you're winning and I'm just trying as hard as I can to push for a playoff spot.”
That's understandable because Horvat is built for the post-season.
His eye-popping end-to-end rushes and 10 goals in 17 games in the 2020 Edmonton bubble were proof that he could lead when it mattered the most. Brayden Point of Tampa Bay led playoff goal scoring with 14 and the Lightning winger played six more games. Horvat finished fourth overall.
He also dominated faceoffs by taking the most, winning the most with a 59 per cent efficiency and was sixth in that playoff run. Fast forward and the consistency that Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau had demanded of Horvat was more than met.
“He's one player, when he looks good he looks great, and people want that all the time,” said Boudreau. “And it's hard to give all the time.”
In the interim, the Canucks will cope with Horvat's absence by shifting Elias Pettersson back to the middle from right wing. He practised Saturday between Conor Garland and Boeser, who's back after missing five games with a suspected hyperextension of his right elbow suffered in a sideboards collision against the Golden Knights on April 3 at Rogers Arena.
Rookie Vasily Podkolzin has taken Horvat's bumper-position spot on the first power play unit, while winger Matthew Highmore, who has missed the last nine games with a upper-body injury, was on a practice line with Juho Lammikko and Will Lockwood on Saturday.