According to the NHL roster site, the Vancouver Canucks have placed forward Kiefer Sherwood on the injured reserved (IR) list, as Dakota Joshua is set to return tonight, per CanucksArmy’s Jeff Paterson.
Sherwood was listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury after exiting Thursday’s matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. He would miss the following home game against the Washington Capitals and did not join the team for the start of a three-game road trip in St. Louis.
Speaking on Monday, head coach Rick Tocchet left open the possibility of Sherwood returning to the lineup Canucks against the Nashville Predators, but it is now unclear when the 29-year-old may return. His injury remains unknown.
The undrafted winger has 13 goals and 21 points in 47 games with the Canucks this season, six points away from his career high of 27 that set last year with the Predators. Sherwood currently sits first in the league in hits with 273, far ahead of Flyers’ winger Garnet Hathaway, who trails second with 184.
In his place, Joshua is set to slide into the Canucks lineup tonight after missing 11 games with a leg injury. The 29-year-old has had a slow start this season, with two goals and two assists in 24 appearances.
Ninth in hits last year with 244 in 63 games, the 6’3″ skater aims to bring a similar physicality that the Canucks are losing in the absence of Sherwood.
Joshua’s last game came against Nashville when the Canucks fell 3-0 to the visiting Predators earlier this month. He played 10:23 with five penalty minutes in that contest.
Speaking to the media earlier today, Joshua said he’s looking to get his season back on track and to get involved early.
The 28-year-old also missed the start of the season this year after undergoing surgery for testicular cancer in September.
Vancouver is coming off back-to-back wins against Washington and St. Louis. They are searching for their first win against Nashville this season, as the Predators took both of the first two meetings in Rogers Arena.
The Canucks sit one point out of the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, behind the Calgary Flames.