Vancouver Canucks place star centre Elias Pettersson on injured reserve

Canucks win despite injury  The Vancouver Canucks beat the Seattle Kraken in a 4-3 victory Thursday night, winning the team’s first game of the year. 

The Vancouver Canucks have placed star centre Elias Pettersson on the injured-reserve list.

The club announced the move on Friday, saying it is retroactive to Dec. 23 and that goalie Arturs Silovs has been called up on an emergency basis.

Pettersson scored twice in Vancouver's 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 23, then left in the third period with an undisclosed ailment and has not played since.

The 26-year-old Swede has 10 goals and 18 assists in 34 appearances this season and is tied with winger Jake DeBrusk for third on the team in points.

Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said earlier on Friday that Pettersson has been skating and is "getting close" to a return.

Vancouver will miss Pettersson, goalie Thatcher Demko (back spasms) and captain Quinn Hughes (undisclosed) when it hosts the Nashville Predators on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 3, 2025.