After battling injuries all year, Chris Tanev is shut down for the season.
Head coach Travis Green announced Tuesday that the Canucks defenseman's season will end prematurely after he suffered a knee sprain in Vancouver's 4-1 loss to St. Louis Friday.
Tanev is done for the year with a sprained knee, said Green.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 27, 2018
The 28-year-old was limited to just 42 games this season due to other injuries. Tanev suffered a fractured leg and took a puck to the mouth that left several of his teeth on the ice.
Ouch. Puck gets deflected into Tanev's face. pic.twitter.com/OhVS9LbudH
— Flintor (@TheFlintor) January 7, 2018
Injury plagued Tanev's season last year as well, limiting the Toronto native to 53 games in 2016-17.
Outside the loss of Tanev, there is some good news coming from Vancouver. Adam Gaudette inked a three-year, entry-level deal with the Canucks Monday after his junior season at Northwestern finished with a loss to Michigan last weekend. A Hobey Baker Award finalist, Gaudette finished the year with 30 goals and 30 assists in 38 games.
The 21-year-old forward could make his NHL debut this week but Green said they don't want to rush Gaudette onto the ice and confirmed that he won't be in Tuesday's lineup against Anaheim.
"We felt it was best for Gaudette to get a few skates in and meet his teammates before hitting the ice for a game," said Coach Green.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 27, 2018
Vancouver is currently tied with the Coyotes at the bottom of the Western Conference with 63 points. The Canucks host the Ducks fresh off a 4-1 road win over the Stars Sunday.