It looks like the Vancouver Canucks might be shelving forward Nils Höglander for the remainder of the regular season.
On Wednesday morning, Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau said the Swedish forward is out long-term and could miss the remainder of the regular season.
Bruce Boudreau says Nils Höglander is out long term, potentially the rest of the season. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) March 30, 2022
He is believed to have suffered a groin injury during practice on March 16th before leaving practice and hasn’t played since.
Höglander is in his second year of pro hockey in North America playing every one of his games with the Canucks. After a strong rookie campaign, his offensive production has dipped a bit this year.
In 2020-21, he appeared in 56 games scoring 13 goals and 27 points, but in his 60 games this year, he’s scored just 10 goals and 18 points.
According to hockeyviz.com’s isolated impact charts, however, he’s showing to be a tremendous two-way player. At even-strength he contributes offence at a 16 percent rate above than league average and defence at a four percent rate above league average.
With the Canucks six points back of a playoff spot in the Western Conference and needing a miracle to make it, it’s no surprise the club is considering shutting him down.
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Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
