Canucks forward Brock Boeser says shot block in Game 1 vs. Oilers led to blood clot

Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser discussed the blood clotting issue that kept him out of Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Edmonton Oilers during his end-of-season media availability on Thursday.

Boeser said he initially sustained a minor blood clot after being bruised by blocking a shot in Game 1 of the series, but it wasn’t deemed serious enough to keep him out of the lineup.

“My leg was feeling fine, and then, about a week later, my calf started really hurting, so we got it checked out,” Boeser said. “I had, I think, a clot in one of my small veins, which wasn’t an issue, so I was allowed to continue to play.”

Then, after playing in the first six games of the series, Boeser received the news that he was done for the series the morning after the Canucks lost Game 6 in Edmonton. He said he asked whether he could play in Game 7 but was told the risks were too severe.

“I had a scan the next morning after Game 6 and [it] showed there was more clotting that moved into my deep vein,” Boeser said. “I wasn’t expecting that, going into that. I didn’t really understand, I think, so it was an emotional morning for me.

“To get told that news after you’re giving all your energy with your teammates into these playoffs and really striving and pushing for the ultimate goal, to get that kinda swept out from under you, to not be out there in Game 7 with these guys, it hurt.”

Boeser, 27, was a driving force for the Canucks during their appearance in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, collecting seven goals and 12 points in 12 games. He racked up 40 goals and 73 points in 81 games with the club during the 2023-24 regular season.

According to Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy, Boeser also played through a broken finger he sustained in practice during the Canucks’ Round 1 series against the Nashville Predators. He didn’t miss a single game in the playoffs until the final one against Edmonton.

With the Canucks’ season now over, Boeser has one year remaining on his contract, which carries a $6.65 million cap hit. He’ll be eligible to sign a new deal with the club starting July 1.