Elias Pettersson and Tucker Poolman are also both close to a return
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The Vancouver Canucks have had few injury worries in their 2021-22 season, but with days to go before the trade deadline, there is at least one question mark.
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Winger Nils Höglander came up lame with what seemed to be an upper left leg or groin issue during a drill early in practice on Wednesday at Rogers Arena. After speaking with athletic therapist Nick Addey-Jibb for several minutes on the bench he went, gingerly, to the Canucks’ dressing room.
Bruce Boudreau described it as a “lower-body injury,” though a source indicated it was likely a groin issue.
“It was just pretty sore,” Boudreau said of how Höglander was doing. “So I don’t know if that means he’s out tomorrow or he’s not out tomorrow.”
The sophomore winger had been skating on a line with Elias Pettersson and Alex Chiasson, but once he left the ice Nic Petan was swapped into his spot.
Petan had been skating as an extra body for the Tanner Pearson-JT Miller-Conor Garland line.
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Boudreau said he’d put Petan with the trio to swap in for Miller, so the Canucks’ leading scorer wouldn’t have to push too hard in practice.
Pettersson back?
After missing the last two games with an upper-body injury, Elias Pettersson was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.
Boudreau had suggested Tuesday, after Pettersson skated on his own in the morning, that the center stood a good chance of practicing Wednesday and playing Thursday, so it wasn’t a big surprise to see him on the ice.
The coach downplayed his status a little, casting doubt on whether he’d play Thursday vs. the Detroit Red Wings.
“He’s still day to day,” Boudreau said. “He’s probably better suited for the weekend.”
poolman close
Tucker Poolman also took a regular turn on the blue line during Wednesday’s practice, another sign that he’s close to a return.
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He has skated with his teammates for more than a week now in his comeback from migraines, which first popped up in late January.
Boudreau said he may be an option as soon as Thursday.
“He’s very close,” the coach said. “I can predict he will play at least one game on the weekend, if he doesn’t play tomorrow night.”
NEXT GAME
thursday
Detroit Red Wings vs. Vancouver Canucks
7 pm, Roger’s Arena. TV: Sportsnet. Radio: Sportsnet 650.
ICE CHIPS — The Canucks reassigned Noah Juulsen and Sheldon Rempal to AHL Abbotsford on Wednesday. They were healthy scratches Tuesday vs. New Jersey, though if Höglander remains out with an injury and Pettersson isn’t able to play Thursday we could see Rempal recalled again. … Boudreau said that backup goalie Jaro Halák is “going to be used and he’s going to be used sooner rather than later.” The Canucks have two sets of back-to-back games in the next week. … Thatcher Demko got the day off from practice. Assistant athletic therapist Dave Zarn put on the pads and was the second goalie for Thursday’s workout.
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