Hughes states that Pearson’s injury wasn’t properly handled.
A Vancouver Canucks player’s injury has ended his 2022-23 season and one of his teammates isn’t happy about how it was handled.
Tanner Pearson’s season was ended after he had a second operation on his hand in November. The team announced this Thursday, before facing the Tampa Bay Lightning. Quinn Hughes, a star defenseman, was asked how his teammates reacted after the loss of 5-4.
“I feel bad for him. I mean, it wasn’t handled properly and you know, it’s not really a good situation he’s got there and hopefully he’s going to be alright,” Hughes said via The Province.
Pearson has not played in a single game since Nov. 9th in Montreal. That was the night he sustained his first injury to his hand and went under a knife the next day. At first, Pearson, a 30-year-old forward, was only expected to miss four to six week. But, after a month of recovery, things were not going according plan. His season was over after a second operation.
It’s no easy task to be content with finishing your season after only 14 games and scoring five points. This is especially true after an injury that left you out for six weeks.
When asked if the team should’ve done something differently when it came to Pearson’s injury, Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau said, “I have no idea, that’s not my call.”
“I really like Tanner a lot and so it really is sad news,” he said. “Here’s a guy, he’s over 30 and you lose a year? It’s really tough and I feel for him. But I know he’ll come back stronger than ever.”
Pearson has been signed through next season with a cap hit at $3.25 million. This means that he won’t be on the market as an unrestricted, free agent looking to prove to other teams that he is healthy.
This drama over a depth scorer’s season-ending injury is just the latest story surrounding the Canucks this season. Boudreau has an expiring contract, and there are discussions about a coaching switch; defenseman Oliver Ekman Larsson, who still has four years of an $86.6-million contract, was made a healthy scratch on ThursdayJ.T. signed an eight-year contract after signing it. Miller’s production has dried up; and despite being one of the NHL’s worst teams, management and ownership refuse to rebuild.
These are just a few of the many activities taking place in Vancouver.
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