Yesterday, Canucks head coach Travis Green confirmed that Loui Eriksson would suit up for the Canucks on their road trip. Today we found out Eriksson is going to draw into the Canucks lineup against the San Jose Sharks for tonight’s 7 PM game on Hockey Night in Canada.
Eriksson returns tonight vs. Sharks. Virtanen & Gaunce will not play. pic.twitter.com/vzokWhe8ce
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 11, 2017
To accommodate Eriksson’s return, Green has opted to sit a pair of youngsters, Brendan Gaunce and Jake Virtanen, in the press box. It sounds like Eriksson will return to the Sedin line that he played so frequently on last season.
Loui Eriksson Sidelined 4-6 Weeks with a Knee Sprain https://t.co/dpnCot8W2N
— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) October 17, 2017
Eriksson has been out of the Canucks lineup since a collision with Tanner Glass in an October 14th game against the Calgary Flames sent him flying into the Flames net, resulting in a knee sprain. In the three games Eriksson had played up to that point, he’d registered one assist and been mostly ineffective.
I suppose it was inevitable Jake would have to sit some games given the number of R Wingers.Hopefully Eriksson helps the PK but I doubt he is going to make the Sedin’s more effective than they were with Jake.
Jake has been doing well on the forecheck and back checking aggressively. The lack of production from that line is more about the Sedins than Jake. Henrik has 8 shots on net (is he injured) all year. They are both -5 in give/takeaways while Jake is +2.
Virtanen is a long way from being a complete player and playing with the Sedins is helping him develop. He has a lot of responsibility on that line and gets coached after every shift.
I would have preferred Eriksson replace Gagner.
agree with your comment, haven’t seen much from Gagner yet and Virtanen is only gonna get better the more he plays. Virtanen also provides some grit and speed to that line, plus he will shoot
Not sure I agree with Eriksson replacing Virtanen. Not like he was tearing it up before he got injured. Maybe he need s to change it up a bit. Get a haircut. Go for a hot yoga class. Become vegan. I mean change something cause he ain’t meeting expectations. And not sure the Sedins are going to suddenly explode with Eriksson.
LE averages .73 PPG in the NHL.
He was brought in to play with the twins.
History.Pedigree.Pride.It’s worth a shot.
I agree with all the comments, LE will bring some stability and veteran discipline to a team whose structure has slipped lately, but I’d still have Virtanen in the lineup. Burmistrov could watch another game.
Missed the game last night, buy by all accounts the Erickson was great.
Not sure where all the LE supporters have gone, because there were plenty when a very small few were totally opposed to this signing, before it happened.