Earlier on Monday morning, the Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin announced that Filip Hronek had rejoined the club in Winnipeg ahead of Tuesday’s match against the Winnipeg Jets.
Hronek ended up skating with the club today, and in his post-practice media availability, head coach Rick Tocchet ruled Hronek as a game-time decision:
“Yeah, he’ll be a game-time [decision] tomorrow,” said the Canucks coach about the defenceman. “He had a really good practice. The protocol he’s in, I’ll talk to the player later today or tomorrow morning to see how he feels after having a hard practice.”
Tocchet also added that tomorrow’s morning skate will be an optional one for Hronek and the Canucks.
Vancouver has missed Hronek for the previous 21 games, where the Canucks hold an 8-6-7 record over that span. During his absence, fellow right-shot defenceman Tyler Myers has stepped into the massive shoes Hronek has left behind.
Myers has played in all 21 games, scoring one goal and six assists for seven points with a plus-four rating while averaging 22:17 minutes of ice time per game. He has also added 30 hits and 36 blocked shots during that span, playing alongside of Hronek’s usual defensive partner, Quinn Hughes.
The Canucks captain spoke on what it was like to have Hronek back at practice today and how much he means to the team:
“He looked great. He always looks great,” said Hughes about his usual defensive partner. “I don’t know what his plan is tomorrow, but I’m sure he’ll be back [in] the next couple of days. We obviously desperately need him.”
To make room for Hronek’s return, the Canucks sent defenceman Erik Brännström back down to AHL Abbotsford on Sunday morning, and he cleared waivers by Monday morning. He played two games for the Abbotsford Canucks this season, tallying three assists over that span.
After Tuesday night’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, the Canucks return home to face the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers. While it is unclear when Hronek will return to the Canucks lineup, his return does appear on the horizon for Vancouver.