Canucks loan forward Roussel to AHL on conditioning stint

Vancouver Canucks' Antoine Roussel (26) celebrates a goal. (Jason Franson/CP)

The Vancouver Canucks have loaned forward Antoine Roussel to the AHL’s Utica Comets on a conditioning stint as he continues to work his way back from the reconstructive knee surgery he underwent last spring, the team announced Monday.

Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre reported last week that Roussel, 30, has been practising with the Canucks and could make his season debut before the end of their six-game road trip, which wraps up against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

Roussel had 31 points in 65 games with the Canucks last season, his first in Vancouver after signing a four-year, $12-million deal during the 2018 off-season.

He tore the ACL in his right knee after a collision with the New York Rangers’ Brendan Lemieux during a game last March.

Roussel previously played six seasons with the Dallas Stars, and has amassed 172 points across 478 NHL games.

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