The Injury Bug: Everything is Happening

This team is bad enough at the best of times, which makes it difficult enough to peg the missing pieces when the going gets tough.

Still, one can’t help but feel for the circumstances this island of misfit toys is operating under. There really is something to be said for the moribund injury luck this franchise has endured all season. The message really hit home last night, when the injury update for Dan Hamhuis was “solid food”. That’s apparently a thing.

There have been several updates since and on the other side of the jump, we’ll get you up to speed.

Last night Daniel invoked the image of his ancestors, donning a helmet splattered in blood. Quite literally bloody, but unbowed, Daniel hardly missed a shift. The images were horrifying, but such is the case when one has a puck swatted into their jaw.

Meanwhile, Henrik is still battling a nagging hip and leg injury, which Jason Botchford described in last night’s edition of The Provies as “nagging, limited and won’t heal very soon”. This sounds sub-optimal. On the bright side, it’s not the same back injury which derailed his 2013-14 campaign. Doesn’t sound like it, anyways.

It appears as though Sven Baertschi is on pace to return from a nagging neck injury, which has kept him from action since halfway through the Canucks 5-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on December 28th. 

Will be interesting to see if Baertschi can find that second gear offensively. The second-year Canucks prospect has been battling inconsistency all season, but appeared to be turning the corner before being felled by injury. The Canucks could certainly use the help.

Brandon Prust, who was fell by the not-so-errant leg of professional heel, Ryan Kesler, appears ready to return to the lineup as well. Likely, for Wednesday’s contest with the Carolina Hurricanes. Will be interesting to see what kind of foot speed a player like Prust can bring to the lineup. It’s been slow going this season, although it’s fair to wonder the extent to which an ankle injury is responsible.

I for one can’t wait for the staged fights.

One of the more surprising developments of the day was that Alexander Edler has been battling the flu lately. Can’t say I’ve noticed a noteworthy drop in play, but it will be an interesting storyline to follow going into Wednesday.

It appears as though Alexandre Grenier won’t be inserted into the lineup for Wednesday’s game with the Hurricanes. Makes sense given that he’s the Canucks most recent injury related recall and that the Canucks are expecting Baertschi and Prust to return to the lineup. Have to wonder how much longer Grenier remains with the big club.

Last night it was revealed that Hamhuis finally had the wiring removed from his jaw and is eating solid food again. Sounds as though his recovery is going according to schedule.