Any slim chance that 19-year-old Jared McCann would join Team Canada for the World Juniors in Finland was dashed last night in Philadelphia, where Canucks center Henrik Sedin was forced to leave the game against the Flyers with an injury.
The Canucks had no update on Sedin last night, but said they expect to recall a player from AHL Utica. That suggests Sedin’s playing status going forward is uncertain, though it sounds like he might give it a go tonight in Detroit.
But with Brandon Sutter still recovering from sports-hernia surgery, combined with the ongoing struggles of 20-year-old Bo Horvat, McCann has simply become indispensable. Pretty crazy, considering he wasn’t even expected to make the team out of training camp.
In a related story, the Canucks are officially in the race for Auston Matthews.
Anyway, from TSN’s Darren Dreger:
Henrik Sedin day to day. Canucks understaffed...Jared McCann won't be loaned to Team Canada for World Juniors.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 18, 2015
No word yet who could be on the way up from Utica, assuming that’s still the plan. Linden Vey is a possibility. He was waived in October, in part to make room for McCann. Funny how things go.
Update:
Vey has been recalled.