Just when you thought the Canucks’ medical woes were over, the injury bug bites again. Mattias Ohlund is the latest defenseman to go down, as an MRI has revealed bone chips in his left knee.
Ohlund played the entire game against Colorado on Tuesday only to experience significant swelling in the joint following the 2-1 loss to the Avs. The big Swede is on a steady diet of anti-inflammatory drugs in an effort to reduce the swelling, but if the current treatment is not successful, he will undergo season-ending arthroscopic surgery. Should the swelling subside to the point that he could resume playing this year, Ohlund will still require the procedure in the off-season.
This injury is just the latest in a long list among Canucks’ rearguards this year; Vancouver’s top seven blue liners have spent a total of 126 games in club med with a variety of ailments from a lacerated calf to cracked vertebrae. This loss is particularly alarming given the Canucks’ offensive struggles, as Ohlund leads all Vancouver defensemen with 8 goals and 22 points this season.
•Frustrated by the Canucks’ lack of offensive punch? Don’t blame the system. At least that’s the message from GM Dave Nonis, who appeared on the TEAM 1040 morning show yesterday. Nonis’ didn’t dispute Vancouver’s scoring problems, but he said the style of play under Alain Vigneault isn’t the issue.
According to Nonis, the Canucks play virtually the same system as the majority of the teams in the Western Conference, but they lack the type of offensive talent that allows other clubs to score more goals. He is painfully aware that it is his job to remedy that, and he conceded that help was more likely to come via the trade route this summer than through free agency as the pool of available signees isn’t that impressive.
•The plans to put a new roof on B.C. Place for the 2010 Games shouldn’t put the B.C. Lions out in the cold according to Bob Ackles. The Leos’ CEO says there will probably be some “inconveniences” to work through at some point during the Lions’ season this year and that scheduling could be affected in 2009. However, Ackles is quick to point out that it is all dependant on what type of roof is decided on, as the folks at PavCo are unsure as to which type of structure will crown the familiar skyline fixture.
They are currently debating whether to go with a dome similar to the one currently in place, a more modern open-centre roof, or a retractable fabric roof.
Scott Rintoul
Mix equal parts college athlete, sports fan and broadcaster. Shake vigorously. Serve chilled Monday-Friday on the TEAM 1040 from 6-9 a.m. or online at thetoulbox.blogspot.com
