Derek Dorsett returned to Vancouver with neck and back stiffness

According to a statement from the team, Derek Dorsett has been returned to Vancouver as symptoms of neck and back soreness flared up. The team, of course, is about to kick off a six-game road trip in Philadelphia tonight and won’t return to Vancouver until Nov. 30.

Dorsett has been an incredible story. After just 14 games in 2016-17, Dorsett had neck surgery that appeared to potentially be career-threatening. When playing, he would feel a numbness after taking or giving hit and it progressively got worse as the season went on.

But he had his surgery, worked hard to recover and get back into game shape, and came flying out of the gates with the Canucks this season. Through 20 games, he already potted seven goals, already tied for the second-most in a single season in his career.

This is an unfortunate setback for Dorsett. While you can debate his contract, his usage on the team, or how sustainable his scoring has been, his comeback story has been pretty incredible. Obviously we all hope that Dorsett can get back on the ice with the Canucks sooner rather than later.