VANCOUVER – Brock Boeser hopes to play tonight for the Vancouver Canucks. But Quinn Hughes won’t.
Hughes is dealing with a lower-body injury. Boeser is dealing with the NHL trade deadline.
The winger who has spent all 532 games of his career with the Canucks, tied for ninth in franchise history with 197 goals, is eligible for unrestricted free agency in July and is general manager Patrik Allvin’s most valuable trading chip ahead of Friday’s deadline.
“I’m trying not to really think about that,” Boeser said after the Canucks’ morning skate at Rogers Arena. “I honestly have no idea what’s going to happen. So yeah, I mean, I’m really just trying to focus on the game tonight. Obviously, it might be a little difficult, but I’m going to do the best I can to really dial it in and be prepared to go out there and work hard and continue to be a leader and try and help our team win a hockey game.
-
-
Watch Hockey Central Trade Deadline on Sportsnet
Sportsnet’s hockey news breakers, analysts and reporters will have coast-to-coast coverage of all the moves made ahead of this season’s NHL trade deadline. Full coverage on March 7 begins at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
“Anytime you have uncertainty, it’s scary. You know, the unknown is scary, so it’s obviously a little bit of stress involved in that. It’s not a great situation. But like I said, I’m really trying to just focus on tonight. I’m still here, I’m still on the Canucks and that’s my main worry right now.”
The Canucks are still trying to negotiate a contract extension with Boeser, and it’s possible Allvin holds on to his longest-tenured player even if an agreement isn’t reached this week.
Coach Rick Tocchet plans to use Boeser in tonight’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.
“Things happen hour to hour, right?” Tocchet said. “Patrik hasn’t told me not to play this guy or this guy. Could it happen? Maybe. But, like right now, I just focus on downstairs.”
Two-way centre Pius Suter and depth defenceman Derek Forbort are also UFA-eligible Canucks who are expected to play tonight as Vancouver chases the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, two points behind the Calgary Flames with a game in-hand.
Tocchet confirmed that Hughes, the Canucks’ best player, will miss his first game due to his latest injury.
Just three games back from an oblique injury that kept him out a month and forced the Norris Trophy-winning defenceman to miss the 4 Nations tournament, Hughes fell awkwardly in Saturday’s 6-3 loss in Seattle while trying to keep Andre Burakovsky from getting to the Vancouver net.
Remarkably durable during his NHL career, the 25-year-old Hughes is on his third injury this season.
Tocchet insisted the latest problem is unrelated to his last injury. The American also missed four games after Christmas due to a hand injury.
“At this point of the season, a lot of people play hurt,” Tocchet said. “This guy’s a gamer, so sometimes you’ve got to make decisions for Quinn. We don’t want to ever jeopardize this guy’s career. It’s not a career-type of (injury), but it’s something you have to keep your eye on.
“I talk to him every day. Like, 80 per cent Quinn, we’ll take on our team right now. But we’ve also got to be careful because, you know, he wasn’t himself the last couple games, even defensively. We have to make sure that we give him a chance, when he’s on the ice, that he can do all levels of the game.”
One of the most dominant play-drivers in the NHL, Hughes was minus-three in Seattle and during Thursday’s 5-2 setback in Anaheim.
-
-
NHL on Sportsnet
Livestream Hockey Night in Canada, Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey, the Oilers, Flames, Canucks, out-of-market matchups, the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the NHL Draft.
The Ducks are just four points behind the Canucks in the Pacific Division and wildcard standings.
Tonight’s game means something, especially for Boeser.
“I’m still here, so I’m not going to talk like I’m leaving,” the 28-year-old said. “But obviously, I love this place.
“I can’t say enough about the fan base and the city and, you know, everyone’s so kind to me. . . just (being) out and about. Everyone’s always had my back and supported me, and it’s something that I really appreciate about this place.”
Rookie defenceman Elias Pettersson will replace Hughes in the lineup.
