Alexander Edler Absent from Canucks Practice; Is the Jordan Subban era Upon Us?

Photo Credit: David Banks – USA TODAY Sports

A surprising bit of news leaked from Canucks practice this morning, as travelling media members reported Alexander Edler’s absence.

As TSN’s Jon Abbott pointed out, Edler fell awkwardly during a puck battle on a fifty-fifty faceoff in the Canucks game Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Edler finished the game, but his status since has been thrown into question.

Edler missing time has become something of a recurring theme this season. If the Swedish rearguard misses time, it will just add to the 14 games he’s already missed less than 50 games into the season.

With the Canucks down to just six healthy defencemen on their active roster and the recently recalled Jordan Subban among them, the obvious question is whether we’ll get a glance of the former fourth round pick. Subban, 21-years-old, is an AHL All-Star this season, with 22 points in 34 games. Prorated over an 82 game season, that’s 53 points.

Subban’s always flourished offensively, though, even going as far back as his OHL career with the Belleville Bulls. The question now is whether Utica Comets coach Travis Green has done enough to mould Subban’s defensive game to anywhere near the point where he can be relied upon to play regular NHL minutes.

I remain skeptical we’re at that point yet, but I don’t mind the idea of playing him in sparse, sheltered minutes as a power play specialist to get a glimpse into how far he’s come or how far he’s left to go.