Vancouver Canucks D Alex Edler to Undergo Surgery, Out 4-6 Weeks
The Vancouver Canucks will lose the second half of their top defensive pairing, as Alex Edler requires surgery.
As the Vancouver Canucks announced today, first-pairing defenceman Alex Edler will miss four to six weeks with a fractured index finger. The Swede injured his finger in the first period of Saturday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche, and is set to undergo surgery today.
Defenceman Alex Edler will undergo surgery today for a fractured index finger on his left hand. His expected recovery is 4-6 weeks. pic.twitter.com/xKkt4Kawqo
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 28, 2016
In the club’s current situation, that is terrible news. The Canucks have already been relying on several Utica Comets players, including Jayson Megna, Michael Chaput and Joseph LaBate.
No. 1 defenceman Chris Tanev has been limited to seven games due to a foot injury, and was replaced by Troy Stecher. Stecher, a 22-year-old rookie, is now one of Vancouver’s most consistent players who shone on a pairing with Edler. With Edler down, however, the Canucks are starting to run into trouble.
The first move will likely be to put Philip Larsen back in. The Danish blue liner has been recovering from an injury of his own, but should be ready to return on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild.
Alternatively, the Canucks could recall Alex Biega from Utica. Biega was just recently sent down on a conditioning stint, as he was a healthy scratch for all but one game in the NHL this season. Another option is Andrey Pedan, who has been a bit of a fan favourite because of his size and physicality.
Either way, the Canucks will have to change things up a bit. A pairing of Larsen and Stecher neither seems like a good solution, nor is it a likely one.
With Vancouver’s injury troubles taking the same shape as last season, the playoffs are moving further and further into the distance. Canucks management likely won’t give up until it’s too late, but they might want to actually look into selling at the deadline this season.
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