The Vancouver Canucks had hopes that Filip Chytil would be a key player for them this season. And the early returns were promising.
Chytil had three goals in his first six games for the Canucks, which was tied for second-most on the team. Analytically, he was their best player in terms of chance creation.
However, a thunderous hit from Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson forced him from the lineup nearly three weeks ago. On Friday, Adam Foote provided an update on the injured centre.
“He’s gotten better,” Foote said. “But he’s not yet doing workouts and things like that.”
Foote was also asked whether Chytil had been in Vancouver throughout the duration of the injury.
“He’s been in and out,” Foote said.
The injury to Chytil has been significant for this team. Newly acquired Lukas Reichel has been filling in at second-line centre since the Canucks traded for him almost two weeks ago. He’s pointless in seven games, and the Canucks have been outscored 9-3 with him on the ice.
Vancouver was leading Washington 3-0 when Chytil was injured on Oct. 19. They would go on to win that game, albeit barely, pushing their record to 4-2.
Since then, the Canucks have won just three of nine games, and they’ve failed to win in regulation since Chytil was injured.
Foote did provide updates on three other players who seem closer to returning than Chytil.
Based on the morning skate earlier this week, Teddy Blueger seemed closest to returning. He was out there for a portion of that skate, although he left the ice early. However, Blueger was not at practice on Friday.
Teddy Blueger has been limited to two games this season because of injury. (Bob Frid/Imagn Images)
“He wanted to be part of this practice, but he’s not ready,” Foote said.
Like Chytil, Blueger was injured in the Oct. 19 game against the Capitals. That was also the case for Jonathan Lekkerimäki, who is also pushing to get back.
“Lekker is skating,” Foote said. “I think he’s getting close.”
The fourth Canucks player that Foote gave an update on was Nils Höglander, who suffered an ankle injury in the team’s second preseason game back in September.
“He’s progressing ahead of schedule with what he’s doing, but he’s not close to a practice,” Foote said.
Following the injury, the team announced on Sept. 29 that Höglander would miss 8-10 weeks.
The eight-week mark would be Nov. 17, which is the final date of the Canucks three-game Eastern road trip, which starts next Thursday.
Vancouver returns home for a game against the Dallas Stars on Thursday, Nov. 20. That might be the earliest we see Höglander return if he doesn’t travel with the team on the road next week.