Vancouver Canucks: Brock Boeser out 4 to 6 weeks with back fracture

For the second time this season, the Vancouver Canucks will be without forward Brock Boeser. This time, it will be for four to six weeks. 

The Vancouver Canucks haven’t given their fans too much to cheer about this season. However, one shining ray of light in an otherwise dark and desolate season has been the play of rookie forward Brock Boeser. He stole the show at the All-Star Weekend and, entering March 6, led all rookies with 29 goals.

However, Boeser has likely played his last game of the 2017-18 season. Against the New York Islanders on Monday, the rookie wing got hit hard into the boards by Cal Clutterbuck. After the game, Boeser got sent to the hospital for precautionary reasons. He will likely miss the rest of the regular season, or at least most of it, after being diagnosed with a lower back fracture.

Luckily, this is a relatively minor injury for Boeser. It’s about as minor as it gets for a back fracture. There is, however, some soft tissue damage. This suggests Canucks fans have likely seen the last of Boeser this season. Bringing him back would serve no real purpose. Just let him heal and be ready to dominate in October.

Unfortunately, this means Boeser’s amazing rookie season is probably over. It sure was a memorable one. Boeser will narrowly miss out being the third Canucks rookie to reach the 30 goal plateau. Trevor Linden (1988-89) and Pavel Bure (1991-92) are the only other two.

Combined with the recent news about Charlie McAvoy, this also all but ensures that Mathew Barzal will win the Calder Trophy. He already likely had the lead going into Tuesday. But with his top two competitors on the sideline, it’s hard to see Barzal not winning the Calder.

Boeser shouldn’t be sidelined long-term, so that’s a good thing. Considering how bad the injury looked at first, a minor back fracture is about the best that could have been hoped for.