The Vancouver Canucks will play against the Anaheim Ducks without one of their young defenceman.
Tom Willander was a late scratch on Tuesday night with a lower-body injury he suffered during morning skate, the Canucks told reporters ahead of puck drop.
Willander, 21, is missing his first game of the season, as he's played all 16 games thus far. In that time, he's recorded three assists. His 20:25 average ice time per game ranks third on the rebuilding Canucks.
The Stockholm native was selected 11th overall by Vancouver in 2023.
The Canucks have lost 13 of their last 14 games and sit last in the Pacific Division with a 3-12-1 record.
