Loui Eriksson Sidelined 4-6 Weeks with a Knee Sprain

Yesterday, the Vancouver Canucks recalled centre Michael Chaput from the Utica Comets. This morning, they put Loui Eriksson on Injured Reserve. Now, three days after Eriksson first went down with a knee injury one shift into his game against the Calgary Flames, we have some clarity on the embattled wingers status.

Now, hours ahead of the Canucks road match against the Ottawa Senators, head coach Travis Green has confirmed that Eriksson has a knee sprain that will keep him from the Canucks lineup for four-to-six weeks. This, just mere days after the Canucks revealed that Alexander Edler had an MCL sprain that would keep him from the lineup for a similar duration of time.

Eriksson sustained the injury driving the Flames net trying to create an odd-man rush in the first period of Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Flames. Flames winger Tanner Glass gave Eriksson a shove at about the hashmarks, and Eriksson lost control, crashing into the yawning cage. Eriksson went to the Canucks room immediately after the play. A few minutes later, Eriksson emerged from the tunnel, took a trial lap during an ad break, but deemed that he wasn’t in good enough shape to play.

In four games with the Canucks this season, Eriksson has one assist and two shots on goal. Eriksson, who’s in the second year of a six-year deal with the Canucks that runs at $6-million against the salary cap. The pressure is on for Eriksson to find his game as a Canuck, a year after scoring just 11 goals. Unfortunately, the renaissance is going to have to wait.