Canucks Ilya Mikheyev explains why he tried to play through ACL injury, and more news
The Daily Goal Horn
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Vancouver Canucks forward Ilya Mikheyev will undergo season-ending ACL surgery, the team announced early Saturday morning.
Mikheyev has been dealing with the injury all season, forcing him to start the season on injured reserve. He’s expected to be ready for training camp.
Mikheyev played in Friday night’s win over Columbus and scored his 13th goal of the season. He finishes with 28 points in 46 games in his first season in Vancouver.
Ilya Mikheyev out for season
With so much debate surrounding Tanner Pearson’s injury which prompted defenseman Quinn Hughes to say “it wasn’t handled properly,” Mikheyev decided to clear the record by taking to Twitter to explain his decision.
“I understand there is a lot of debate about my decision to play with an ACL injury. Here are the facts: when I was injured in the preseason, I went through several tests and realized I could play without causing any more damage. That’s what I wanted to do.
“Twice per week, we consulted with team doctors about how things were progressing. Never did I feel pressure, never did I feel worse. It was my decision. Finally it reached a point where I wanted to be ready on time for next year. If I continued to play, I wouldn’t be ready for training camp. I appreciate everyone’s concern, but I have no complaints with the way this was handled.”
Hughes did eventually clarify that he wasn’t looking to blame anyone for Pearson’s season-ending hand injury. However, the Canucks are holding an internal investigation to determine what went wrong.
“At that point, I just started to gather information and talk to people that are involved and start to do an investigation as to what really happened,” President Jim Rutherford said. “We take the situation very seriously. We certainly have to look at everything here when something like this happens, and we’re going to continue to do that.”
Capitals hold out Tom Wilson and Nic Dowd
Washington Capitals forwards Tom Wilson and Nic Dowd won’t return until after the All-Star break due to lower-body injuries, coach Peter Laviolette said Saturday.
The Capitals have two games remaining before the break, on Sunday at Toronto and on Tuesday at Columbus.
Wilson, 28, was playing just his eighth game of the season Tuesday night when he blocked a shot off his right leg during a 3-2 loss at Colorado.
Wilson has two goals and one assist this season, raising his career total to 276 points (117 goals, 159 assists) in 655 games over 10 seasons with Washington.
Dowd, 32, was injured Monday after taking a hit along the boards from Cal Clutterbuck in the opening minutes of the Capitals’ 4-3 overtime win against the New York Islanders.
Dowd has 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in 44 games this season. He has 121 points (55 goals, 66 assists) in 415 games with the Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks and Capitals.
Gustav Nyquist out indefinitely
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Gustav Nyquist is out indefinitely with an upper-body injury, the team said Friday.
The 33-year-old veteran was hurt during Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime road win against the Edmonton Oilers.
Nyquist has posted 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) and has played in all 48 games so far this season.
He was one of two Columbus players, joining Andrew Peeke, to appear in all 82 games last season. Nyquist mised all of 2020-21 with a shoulder injury.
Nyquist has 423 points (174 goals, 249 assists) in 700 career games with the Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks and Blue Jackets.
–Field Level Media
–The Daily Goal Horn contributed to this article