Canucks winger Mikael Samuelsson will be out up to three weeks with an undisclosed upper body injury during Tuesday night's 5-2 loss to the Islanders.
Samuelsson left during the third period of a contest that also saw his seven-game point streak come to an end. The 33-year-old had seven of his nine goals during that span in the five games since being moved onto the Canucks' No. 1 line with fellow Swedes Daniel and Henrik Sedin.
"He's been playing really well," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said. "Obviously he was contributing to our success and it's something we'll have to deal with."
Samuelsson signed a three-year, $7.5-million free agent deal in Vancouver last summer after four seasons in Detroit. He has already set career highs with 30 goals and 53 points.
The Canucks called up rookie Michael Grabner from the AHL on Wednesday, but Alex Burrows will replace Samuelsson on the top line. Burrows is also having a career year with 32 goals and 59 points, most coming alongside the Sedin twins before losing that spot.
Grabner, a speedy 22-year-old, had two goals and three assists in his first nine NHL games this season. The 2006 first-round draft pick lost his spot on the second line after breaking his ankle while warming up with a soccer ball in early November and was sent back to the AHL.
Vancouver also signed their 2009 first-round draft pick, Jordan Schroeder, on Wednesday, ending his NCAA career after just two seasons at Minnesota.
The 20-year-old Schroeder was picked 22nd in last summer's draft and helped the United States win the world junior championships in January.
