It’s looking as though the Vancouver Canucks will have to go a few more games without one of their star forwards.
Winger Brock Boeser will be joining the Canucks on their two-game road trip but is a long shot to return to game action until after the Olympic break, head coach Adam Foote told reporters after practice on Friday.
Boeser has missed the Canucks’ last two games after heading to the concussion protocol following a hit to the head from Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust on Sunday.
The injury occurred in the dying seconds of the game. Rust clipped Boeser with an elbow as he skated through the slot as the third period ticked down.
The Canucks winger was placed on injured reserve one day later along with defenceman Zeev Buium, who took a puck to the face in the same game. Rust was suspended three games for the hit.
Boeser, 28, has struggled some this season with just 12 goals and 13 assists in 50 games. He is in the first year of a seven-year, $50.75 million contract signed with the Canucks on July 1.
The Canucks (18-31-5) are last place in the NHL. They return to the ice on Saturday as they host the Toronto Maple Leafs (Sportsnet, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT), then have games against the Utah Mammoth and Vegas Golden Knights before Olympic action gets underway.
