The Vancouver Canucks have recalled defenceman Mark Friedman for more help on the blue line.
The blueliner appeared on the team’s roster on the official media site today. The move follows this morning’s news that blueliner Filip Hronek is set to miss a significant amount of time with an injury.
The right-handed Friedman hasn’t played an NHL game so far this season. He played 23 games last year and finished with one assist.
The team also sent forward Arshdeep Bains back down to Abbotsford. The 23-year-old has one goal in 11 games so far this season and has bounced between the NHL and AHL.
Hronek’s injury will reportedly keep him out of the lineup long term so Friedman could be on the roster for a while. He’s the fourth right-handed defenceman available right now along with Tyler Myers, Noah Juulsen, and Vincent Desharnais.
The 28-year-old has four points in eight AHL games so far this year. He recently returned to action after missing time due to being on the receiving end of a scary-looking hit.
The Canucks blue line was already thin before Hronek’s injury. His presence will be dearly missed and it’s likely the team will explore a trade to help replace his production. There are a few intriguing names on the market and the Canucks have already been confirmed to be checking in on them.
The team is coming off a 5-4 loss to the lowly Pittsburgh Penguins and sitting on the edge of a playoff spot. Friedman gives them another option to rotate through on the blue line as they wait to get several key players, including Hronek, Thatcher Demko, and J.T. Miller, back in the lineup.