Hughes claims Pearson’s injury was not properly treated.

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, the star defenseman, was asked by reporters how his locker responded to the news after the 5-4 defeat.

“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 been in a game since Nov. 9, in Montreal. This was the day he injured his hand in the first game and then went under the knife the following day. The initial expectation was that Pearson would miss between four and six weeks. But, after a month of recovery, things were not going according the plan. His season was over after a second operation.

It is difficult to accept that you have played 14 games, scored five points and finished your season.

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. was signed to an eight-year deal by himself. Miller’s production has dried up; and despite being one of the NHL’s worst teams, management and ownership refuse to rebuild.

This is only a small sample of the many happenings in Vancouver.

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