Sami Salo will return to the Vancouver lineup Saturday night against Calgary, helping offset the loss of defenseman Dan Hamhuis to a concussion.
Salo hasn't played this season after tearing his Achilles' tendon while playing a form of floor hockey over the summer. He was on a conditioning stint with the Manitoba in the AHL.
''It's been a long wait and all the hard work and now, all of a sudden, the stuff that I've gone through, it's all paying off right now,'' Salo said.
Hamhuis is out indefinitely after he was hit from behind by the Anaheim Ducks' Ryan Getzlaf during a 4-3 loss Wednesday night. He lay motionless on his back for about five minutes before being taken to the dressing room. No penalty was called.
''He had a concussion, so he is out until further notice,'' Canucks coach Alain Vigneault said. ''Dan was watching his pass and should have been trying to protect himself a little bit, because some guys finish hits. Some don't.''
The Canucks had already lost Keith Ballard to a strained knee that will keep him out four weeks, and defenseman Alex Edler until at least the playoffs after back surgery.
The Canucks also returned Cody Hodgson to the AHL after fairing well on the fourth line.
''Definitely our whole organization, from the coaches to the management, thought that he was on the upswing,'' Vigneault said. ''But we also felt that he needs to play. He had about seven or eight minutes here of ice time, so he's going to go down to Manitoba.''
