Vancouver Canucks, Tyler Motte

Canucks Daily: Lockwood Back, Barzal Hurt, ‘The Motter’

Injuries limited his time spent on the ice for the Vancouver Canucks, but Tyler Motte seemed to be a popular character for the team, the media and the local fans. The feisty bottom six forward and penalty killer managed to play 196 games for the Canucks after joining the franchise in a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets in February of 2018.

Motte arrived with Jussi Jokinen in the deal for Thomas Vanek. He departed last March at the trade deadline to the New York Rangers for a fourth round pick in 2023.

After signing with the Ottawa Senators in September and playing 38 games, Motte was re-acquired by the Broadway Blueshirts in a deal announced Sunday. Apparently the Rangers also enjoy having the likeable 27-year-old Michigan native around as a depth forward. He’s a playoff rental at this point; an unrestricted free agent come summer.

Lockwood to Abby

An even feistier, more physical forward just got activated from injury and sent by the Canucks to Abbotsford of the American Hockey League.

Will Lockwood skated with the big club in a non-contact jersey in recent days and has now been sent to the AHL to play. Like Motte, Lockwood, age 24, played his college hockey at the University of Michigan.

He picked up his first career NHL assist in his 13-game stint with the NHL team this season. In 28 total games in the big show, he’s still looking to light the lamp for the first time. He has 12 goals in 24 AHL games this season.

Islanders Ouch

Former Canucks captain Bo Horvat and his new mates with the New York Islanders now have an even bigger challenge while gunning for a playoff spot as it was announced Monday that star forward and Coquitlam native Mathew Barzal will be out indefinitely with a lower body injury.

He departs as the club’s 2nd leading scorer with 51 points in 58 games played, just four points behind NHL All-Star forward Brock Nelson.

Barzal left Saturday’s game against the Boston Bruins in the first period following a hit by Craig Smith.

Entering NHL action on Monday, the Islanders sit in the 2nd Eastern Conference wild card playoff position.

The Canucks finish February with three of their next four games on the road, starting with a visit to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday evening.

Enjoy the Hockey Action!!

Rob Simpson

Rob Simpson has covered the NHL in five different decades. He’s authored 4 books on hockey and is a veteran TV and radio play-by-play man and reporter.