The ideal Christmas gift for the Vancouver Canucks will be a healthy Alex Burrows.
The under-producing forward’s season took a turn for the worse Sunday, when teammate Chris Tanev hit Burrows in the face on a clearing attempt and broke his jaw during the second period of the Canucks’ 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. (Watch the injury at the 1:40 mark of the video above.)
Burrows’ agent, Paul Corbiel, confirmed to Vancouver radio station News 1130 that his client underwent successful jaw surgery Monday night in Dallas. Coach John Tortorella later said Burrows would miss at least four weeks while he recovers.
Burrows, 32, has yet to score a goal this season. He has three assists in 17 games played and hopes to return to the Canucks’ lineup in about three weeks.
The Canucks were already looking to add to their group of forwards. Burrows’ injury could accelerate general manager Mike Gillis’ desire to acquire a winger.