The Vancouver Canucks announced that right winger Brock Boeser is sidelined indefinitely with a hand injury. Boeser was not in the lineup in Friday’s 4-1 loss at the Carolina Hurricanes.
Brock Boeser out of #Canucks lineup with hand injury. Return TBD. Story coming on https://t.co/MsAZRGfGmt
— Iain MacIntyre (@imacSportsnet) February 9, 2018
Broke Boeser Injured
The former University of North Dakota standout was injured after taking a hit from Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Dan Girardi in Thursday’s 5-2 loss at Tampa. The young winger landed on his hand and underwent an MRI on Friday.
So far this season, he scored 26 goals and 21 assists for 47 points. He also added 14 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers are 48.4 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of +0.6.
Over his one-plus-year NHL career, Boeser has played exclusively for the Vancouver Canucks. He has put up 30 goals and 22 assists for 52 career points in 60 career games. Boeser was originally drafted in the 1st round, 23rd overall of the 2015 NHL draft by the Vancouver Canucks.
“He fell on his hand, so it’s a hand injury,” coach Travis Green told reporters before the game. “We don’t know the extent of it yet. We didn’t think he’d be out and he woke up this morning and it was stiff.”
What This Means for the Future
Vancouver loses a player that is giving fans hope for its future. A wave of December injuries seriously dented the team’s playoff chances. However, Boeser has injected offence into the lineup and he’ll likely be a cornerstone for the franchise. His emergence will make it easier to deal with the uncertain future of Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin.
Boeser took the league by storm by winning the accurate shot competition at NHL All-Star Weekend in Tampa. Boeser and New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal are the favourites for the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie, but Barzal has a chance to pull away and win the award for himself.
Main Photo: NEWARK, NJ – NOVEMBER 24: Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (6) during the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Vancouver Canucks on November 24, 2017, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
