Canucks' Filip Hronek still being evaluated, no timeline on return

November 29, 2024 - 1:28pm

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Filip Hronek takes a hard fall after being checked into the boards in the final minute against the Pittsburgh Penguins; Hronek would later be deemed week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

The Vancouver Canucks should expect to be without a core defenceman for some time.

Head coach Rick Tocchet told reporters Friday that Filip Hronek is still being evaluated for an upper-body injury and there is no timeline on his return. This news follows a report on Thursday from Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman that Hronek would be out for "a while" as he recovers.

Vincent Desharnais will draw into the lineup on Friday afternoon against the Buffalo Sabres.

Hronek was injured in the final minute of Wednesday's loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 27-year-old went shoulder-first into the end boards after a hit from defenceman Jack St. Ivany. He left the ice and was favouring his right shoulder.

Hronek has recorded one goal and eight assists in 21 games this season. He signed an eight-year, $58 million contract extension with the Canucks in June.

It's the latest injury for a Vancouver team that's dealt with several notable absences this season. That includes all-star goalie Thatcher Demko, who remains sidelined with a knee injury, and centre J.T. Miller, who's on indefinite leave for personal reasons.

"I think when you play in this league long enough, whether it's as a player or as a coach, you're going to have adversity and you've got to come together as a group," Tocchet said Friday. "It's a committee thing. You can't take it upon yourself as an individual to take over the team type of thing."

In order to fill the space on the blue line left by Hronek, the Canucks recalled defenceman Mark Friedman from AHL Abbotsford earlier Friday.

The Canucks take on the Sabres in a matinee Black Friday tilt. Watch live on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT.

-- With files from the Canadian Press

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