The Vancouver Canucks press conference with Jim Rutherford has resulted in several major news items, including the fact that he will be performing “major surgery” on the roster before next season.
Another was the status of Tucker Poolman, who has been on long-term injured reserve since October. Rutherford explained that he does not believe Poolman will return this season, though they are still waiting on the evaluation of some specialists on his future.
Poolman, 29, is signed through the 2024-25 season and carries a $2.5MM cap hit. That contract was one signed by the previous management group, and one that quickly looked like a mistake. The former Winnipeg Jets defenseman has played just 43 games for the Canucks, and is averaging fewer than 17 minutes of ice time when he’s in the lineup.
He has just four points as a Canuck, and never has looked like the right-shot solution that the team desperately needs.
Given that Rutherford mentioned buyouts, it is important to note that an injured player cannot go through that process. If the team wants to move on in that manner, Poolman will have to be cleared medically in the coming months.
They played the presser on mareks show today. It was pathetic, Rutherford sounds like he’s way to old for this. They then just paraded out their medical staff to all say some word salad to say these issues aren’t their fault
Wow wasn’t done listening to it these guys start to get destroyed by reporters this is a must listen to presser if your a hockey fan or a fan of sports in general
The previous management left them in a tire-fire with these contracts.
If this was all that was the problem (Pearson’s hand, Poolman’s concussion) than this would be an average press meeting.
Instead, they’ve scratched Boeser, OEL. Hughes says Pearson is not being treated right (what does that mean?), Demko is injured, JT Miller is signed for too long, Horvat has to be traded.
It’s all inherited and poor previous management. Injuries are just bad luck