The Vancouver Canucks are expected to be without their second best defenceman for some time, but as of now, the club has no official timeline for his injury. Following reports on Thursday that defenceman Filip Hronek would be out “a while”, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet addressed the media in Buffalo and answered a question about Hronek’s status.

“Still being evaluated,” said Tocchet. “He’s still going to see a couple more people. I don’t know the length, but like I said, people are looking at him now.”

Hronek appears to have been injured in the dying moments of the Canucks’ 5-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night when he was pushed into the boards and appears to immediately grab at his right shoulder upon contact.

Losing Hronek is certainly a big blow for the Canucks. They’re currently set to run a right-side blueline featuring Tyler Myers, Vincent Desharnais, Noah Juulsen/Mark Friedman. Hronek has played big minutes for the Canucks all season long, averaging 23:36 minutes of ice time per game. He hit a season high in ice-time filling in as the teams top defenceman when Quinn Hughes was ejected against the Ottawa Senators, playing 27:38.

On the season, he’s recorded one goal and eight assists for nine points in 21 outings but has provided a steady defensive option playing alongside Hughes, allowing him to thrive offensively. It remains to be seen who will slot into Hronek’s spot, slotted on the right of the reigning Norris trophy winner. Hughes has played over 300 minutes at 5v5 with Hronek, spending 46:52 with Myers, 12:46 with Desharnais and 10:06 with Noah Juulsen this season.

The Canucks acquired Hronek from the Detroit Red Wings in 2022 when they sent a first-round pick (owned by the New York Islanders, acquired in the Bo Horvat trade) and a second-round pick in the 2023 draft. The Red Wings selected Swedish defenceman Axel Sandin-Pellikka with the first-round pick and traded the second-round pick to the Nashville Predators, who selected Swedish centreman, Felix Nilsson.

Vancouver will have a huge void to fill in Hronek’s absence. We will have to wait to see line rushes ahead of their matinee matchup on Friday afternoon against the Buffalo Sabres to see who will play in his spot.