The Vancouver Canucks received troubling news regarding their defense, as general manager Patrik Allvin announced Tuesday that Filip Hronek, a top-pair defenseman, will miss eight weeks due to a lower-body injury requiring surgery.
Hronek sustained the injury in late November during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He collided with Pittsburgh’s Jack St. Ivany, hit the boards, and left the ice shortly thereafter.
Despite this setback, Allvin clarified that Hronek’s separate upper-body issue does not require surgical intervention.
Hronek, paired with captain Quinn Hughes on the Canucks’ first defensive unit, had been a key contributor this season, tallying nine points in 21 games before the injury. The 26-year-old was building on a standout 2023–24 campaign, during which he amassed 48 points and led the NHL with a plus-33 rating. This impressive performance earned him an eight-year, $58 million contract extension in the offseason, cementing his place as a cornerstone of Vancouver’s defense.
The Canucks acquired Hronek at the 2023 trade deadline in a deal with the Detroit Red Wings, trading two draft picks to secure his services. While the team chose to re-sign Hronek, they allowed defenseman Nikita Zadorov to depart for free agency, where he joined the Boston Bruins.
Since Hronek’s injury, Vancouver has gone 2-1, winning two consecutive games before losing 3-2 in overtime to the Minnesota Wild, concluding a six-game road trip. The Canucks now hold a 13-7-4 record with 30 points, ranking third in the Pacific Division behind the Los Angeles Kings (31 points) and the Vegas Golden Knights (35).
