The Vancouver Canucks leading goal scorer last season Brock Boeser was hurt after a hit to the head from Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot last Thursday – Jeannot was later suspended for three games for the careless hit. Boeser would skate to the bench under his own power but wouldn’t return to the game.
After practice on Monday ahead of their game against the Calgary Flames, Rick Tocchet met with the media to discuss the status of his American sniper:
“I don’t,” Tocchet said when asked for an update on Boeser. “I think it’s day-to-day. I haven’t really talked to him today, to be honest, because these things [are] day-to-day; [some days] you feel better. I don’t know.”
Tocchet says Boeser is day to day. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) November 11, 2024
Boeser, 27, has played his entire nine-year career in Vancouver, playing 491 games, scoring 185 goals and 210 assists for 395 points with a 132 penalty minutes and a minus-eight rating. The Burnsville, Minnesota native had set career bests in goals (40), points (73), power play points (25) and plus/minus rating (plus-23) just last season.
The former first-round pick built off last year’s success as he was churning in an impressive start to this season, as he has six goals and five assists for 11 points through the first 12 games. Boeser is in the final year of his three-year $19.95 million contract, which pays him $6.65 per season. The 6’1″ forward’s current contract comparison has been linked to recently re-signed Travis Konecny, who signed an eight-year $70 million contract that pays him $8.75 million annually.
On Saturday, Pius Suter and Conor Garland skated on Boeser’s usual line with JT Miller. But throughout the last two practices, highly touted prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki has been skating in Boeser’s spot. The 20-year-old Swede has been producing in the AHL, scoring five goals and seven points in seven games and has a very high shot volume. Lekkerimäki has registered 52 total shots with the Abbotsford Canucks this season.
It looks like the Canucks will be without Boeser and that Lekkerimäki will make his NHL tomorrow against the Calgary Flames.
