Canucks Blueger downgraded to week to week with bruised knee

Veteran centre will have to wait to make his Canucks regular season debut

The Vancouver Canucks will be without Teddy Blueger longer than originally expected. Blueger suffered a bruised knee blocking a shot in the Canucks preseason finale against Calgary on October 6th. 

He joined the team for practice two days later, but left after about 15 minutes and hasn't been seen since. There had been hope Blueger would be available for Wednesday's season opener, however that didn't happen. Today, head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed Blueger is now listed as 'week to week' and won't travel with the team for its five-game road trip which starts Saturday in Edmonton.

"We're not quite sure (of the extent of the injury), but it's a week to week thing for him," Tocchet said after Friday's practice at UBC."It's the way that he plays the game, he wants to gut everything out. But it's good that he takes some time off."

Blueger had a strong preseason and scored the night he was injured. He signed a one-year $1.9M free agent contract with the Canucks on July 1st.

However, like Carson Soucy (knee) who was also injured in the same game against the Flames, Blueger will have to wait to make his Canucks regular season debut.

Soucy skated with a skills coach prior to Friday's practice and then remained on the ice with his teammates for about 30 minutes wearing a non-contact jersey. He is expected to travel with the team and could be an option at some point on the road trip.