Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin met with media in an impromptu availability Saturday to sort through a laundry list of injuries ahead of their game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Allvin provided key updates to goaltender Thatcher Demko, forwards Brock Boeser and Dakota Joshua, and prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki.
According to Allvin, Boeser will miss Saturday’s game against the Oilers as he’s still being evaluated for an upper-body injury.
The 27-year-old suffered the injury in Thursday’s 4-2 win over the Kings, when Los Angeles forward Tanner Jeannot made contact with Boeser’s chin on an open-ice hit. Jeannot was assessed a match penalty and was suspended three games for the hit.
Head coach Rick Tocchet said he spoke with Boeser briefly on Saturday morning.
“He doesn’t feel great, but I wouldn’t say it’s horrible. So I think right now he’s indefinite,” Tocchet said. “We’ll see. These things, they change in a week or 24 hours, I don’t know.”
Boeser has six goals and five assists in 12 games this season.
Demko, meanwhile, has yet to suit up for Vancouver this year and Allvin told reporters that there is still no timeline for the goaltender’s return.
The 28-year-old took shots from teammates at practice on Thursday.
Demko was placed on the season-opening injured non-roster while rehabbing a knee injury. The initial injury was suffered in March last season and saw him miss 14 games. He returned in time to close the regular season but went down again in the team’s first post-season game.
As for good news, Allvin is hopeful that Joshua will be able to return to play during the team’s upcoming six-game homestand. The 28-year-old had been sidelined indefinitely as he recovers from testicular cancer but has been skating with the team for the past two weeks.
Lastly, Lekkerimaki, the team’s top prospect, apparently tweaked something and is unavailable to play for AHL Abbotsford on Saturday night. According to Allvin, the 20-year-old was an option to be called up had he not suffered the tweak.
The 2022 first-rounder has five goals and two assists in seven games for Abbotsford this season.
— With files from the Canadian Press
