The Vancouver Canucks kick off their six-game road trip on Saturday night as they take on the Ottawa Senators. Having left for the Nations Capital on Thursday, the club hit the ice for practice on Friday morning, accompanied by last year’s goal-scoring leader, Brock Boeser.
Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre broke the news that Boeser joined the group while sporting a non-contact jersey.
Brock Boeser practising with Canucks in non-contact jersey. First time with main group since he was concussed by Tanner Jeannot 15 days ago.
— Iain MacIntyre (@imacSportsnet) November 22, 2024
Boeser has been out of the lineup since November 7, when he was skating through the neutral zone and was blindsided by a brutal hit to the head from Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot. The hit knocked Boeser to the ice, staying there until the play stopped. Fortunately, Boeser was able to skate to the bench under his own power.
Jeannot would get suspended three games for this reckless hit. He has since returned to the Kings lineup and played in two games while Boeser remains sidelined.
The 27-year-old set a career-high in goals (40), points (73), plus-minus (plus-23) and games played (81) in 2022-23. He’s carried that success over to this season, where before his injury, he led the Canucks forward group in goals (6) and points (11) in just 12 games played. Despite missing six games, he remains fifth on the team in points, trailing only Quinn Hughes, JT Miller, Conor Garland and Elias Pettersson.
Without the Burnsville, Minnesota native, the Canucks hold a 2-4 record in his absence. However, with Boeser in the lineup, Vancouver is 7-2-3. This forward group has struggled to find the back of the net without Boeser in the lineup, as just six forwards (Pettersson, Pius Suter, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Aatu Räty, Kiefer Sherwood, Conor Garland) have scored on NHL goaltenders – Miller and Teddy Blueger have empty net goals – during that span. In contrast, four defencemen (Hughes, Filip Hronek, Erik Brännström, Tyler Myers) have found the back of the net.
Boeser has one year remaining on his three-year, $19.95 million contract and is vying for a new deal, whether that be in Vancouver or elsewhere.
While this is encouraging progress in Boeser’s recovery, he will need to shed his non-contact jersey before being considered for a return to the lineup. After Saturday’s game in Ottawa, Boeser’s next opportunity to make his return is on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins.
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