Canucks Blueger set to skate any day; still listed as week to week

Forward suffered knee injury blocking shot in club's October 6th preseason finale

According to Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, injured centre Teddy Blueger is nearing a return to the ice. However, Blueger remains out of the Canucks line-up indefinitely and isn't likely to play on the team's three-game homestand.

Blueger suffered what was believed to be a deep ankle bruise in an October 6th preseason game against Calgary. That was three weeks ago tomorrow. According to the team he has been rehabbing with the medical staff but has not been on skates since.

"Teddy had another scan and it (his recovery) is on schedule," Tocchet said after Thursday's practice at Rogers Arena. "He's looking very good here and I think he's going to start to skate here very soon. I don't know whether it's tomorrow, but it's going to be very soon."

The Canucks are off to a 4-2 start without Blueger but will certainly welcome him back when he's ready. He will likely centre the team's fourth line and will be used as one of the club's top penalty killers.

Tocchet says once Blueger is medically cleared, he will need a few practices to get up to game speed before making his Canucks debut.

"If this were the playoffs, I'm sure he could play after a few skates, but we're not going to do that," the coach said. "There are some protocols we have for guys that skate. He's working out hard (off the ice), but obviously it's on the ice it's a lot different than in the gym."

When Blueger is healthy, the Canucks will have line-up and roster decisions to make. Until then, they will likely continue with Sam Lafferty at centre on the fourth line with the likes of Nils Höglander, Anthony Beauvillier and Jack Studnicka looking for spots on the wing.

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