The Canucks announced that they’ve reinstated defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph from injured reserve. They had an open roster spot after placing Derek Forbort on IR yesterday, so no corresponding transaction is required.
Joseph will be available for tonight’s game against the Stars after sitting out all three games this season with an undisclosed injury. He landed on IR to open the season after an issue arose late in camp, so he hasn’t played since the beginning of the month. He returned to practice in a non-contact jersey on Tuesday, so he’s had a few days of ramp-up.
The 26-year-old lefty will be making his Canucks debut if he enters the lineup tonight, but based on this morning’s line rushes, he’s expected to be a healthy scratch, per Dan Murphy of Sportsnet. He inked a one-year, league-minimum deal with the club in free agency after being non-tendered by the Penguins.
A first-round pick by the Coyotes back in 2017, Joseph is still looking to re-establish himself as an everyday defender. Acquired from Arizona by Pittsburgh in the 2019 Phil Kessel deal, Joseph first broke out as an NHL option in the 2022-23 season, when he made 75 appearances for the Pens and posted five goals and 21 points with a +8 rating. That was good enough to give him a few fringe Calder Trophy votes, but since then, he hasn’t been able to recapture that level of two-way performance.
Joseph only made 52 appearances for Pittsburgh the following year before being non-tendered for the first time. He signed with the Blues on a one-year deal worth $950K for 2024-25, but had two points and a -7 rating in 23 games before they traded him back to the Penguins. His stat line to finish out the year was even more underwhelming – just one assist and a -15 rating in 24 games for a performance that showed out well below replacement value.
He reunites with president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford in Vancouver, who was the GM of the Penguins when they initially acquired him six years ago. He’ll start by slotting in as the Canucks’ No. 7 while Elias N. Pettersson and Victor Mancini cover bottom-pairing duties for now with Forbort out. Still, he might get a look in the lineup if the “other” Elias continues to struggle as he has through the first three games. He’s been held without a point, is averaging 13:36 per game, and has been caved in for a 34.8 CF% and 32.4 xGF% at even strength.