INJURY UPDATE:Vancouver Canucks Suffer Another Key Injury Blow Ahead of Training Camp.

The Vancouver Canucks are already facing challenges ahead of training camp. Notably, both Thatcher Demko and Dakota Joshua will be absent when camp kicks off in Penticton on Thursday.

Demko’s absence has been known for some time, as he’s dealing with a knee injury that cannot be treated with surgery and may cause him to miss the start of the 2024-25 regular season. On Tuesday, the Canucks revealed that Joshua had undergone surgery to remove a cancerous lump from his testicle, which came as a surprise.

The list of unavailable players has grown further. According to Thomas Drance of The Athletic, Teddy Blueger and Cole McWard will also miss the start of camp. Canucks GM Patrik Allvin confirmed that both players had minor lower body surgeries, with Blueger’s return expected day-to-day and McWard’s recovery listed as week-to-week.

Of the two, Blueger’s absence is more significant. He had a strong debut season with the Canucks, contributing 22 assists and tying his career-best with 28 points, while averaging nearly 15 minutes of ice time in 68 games. His performance earned him a two-year contract extension worth $1.8 million annually.

McWard, who has only played in six NHL games and scored one goal, will miss valuable time to prove himself while he recovers week-to-week.

Drance also noted that Demko is expected to address his injury situation on Thursday. There remains much uncertainty surrounding his status, and fans are hopeful for some clarity when he speaks, though expectations are tempered.