The Canucks skated Friday in preparation for their trip to Edmonton to take on the Oilers Saturday night in a rematch of Wednesday evening’s season opener won by Vancouver 8-1.
Injured D-man Carson Soucy, still dressed in a red no-contact jersey, looks like he’s recovering quickly from the lower body injury suffered in the preseason finale against the Calgary Flames. He’ll travel to Edmonton as the club begins its five-game, 12 day road trip.
The news wasn’t as good for defenceman Guillaume Brisebois or forward Teddy Blueger.
“He’s been evaluated, it’s week-to-week,” Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said after practice on Friday in reference to Blueger. “Whether it’s one week we’re not quite sure, but it’s a week-to-week thing with him.”
Blueger won’t travel to Edmonton but could hop on a later portion of the journey if he’s ready.
“‘Briz’ (Brisebois) is definitely week-to-week too,” Tocchet stated. “He hasn’t skated yet. Upper body I guess. I hate saying that stuff, but it is what it is.”
After the Oilers the Canucks travel to take on the Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and Nashville Predators before heading home after the game on October 24th.
Ex-Canucks, Ex-Locals
Abbotsford native, former Surrey Eagle in the BCHL, and five-year NHL veteran Devon Toews signed a seven-year contract extension worth $7.25-million per season with the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. The 29-year-old lefty is in the final year of a four-year deal.
“Getting a deal done with Devon at the start of the season was a priority for us,” Avalanche General Manager Chris MacFarland stated. “He has emerged as one of the best defencemen in the NHL and is a huge part of the core of this team.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to remain with the Avalanche and continue to build upon what we’ve accomplished so far,” Toews said. “Denver has become home to my family and we love being a part of this community.”
Meanwhile, if you’re going to double dip, a team ought to get its money’s worth. Oliver Ekman-Larsson will get paid varying amounts through the 2030-’31 season by the Vancouver Canucks following his contract buy-out on June 16th. He then signed a one-year deal with the Florida Panthers for $2.250-million on July 1st.
With two key right-handed defencemen missing from the Cats line-up, lefty OEL played a whopping 26:32 on the right side in Florida’s 2-0 season opening loss to the Minnesota Wild. He saw action at even strength, shorthanded, and on the power play. He’ll get another crack at it against the Jets in Winnipeg on Saturday afternoon.
Another former Canucks D-man and a Vancouver native who’s not afraid to drop the mitts, did just that on Thursday night in his first game with the San Jose Sharks. That would be Kyle Burroughs who scrapped with big Keegan Kolesar of the Vegas Golden Knights just 3:21 into the contest.
The 28-year-old righty signed a three-year deal with San Jose on July 1st worth $1.1-million per season.
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