[https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-elias-lindholm-is-back-practising](https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-elias-lindholm-is-back-practising)
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[Thatcher Demko](https://theprovince.com/tag/thatcher-demko/) isn’t the only injured Canuck who is getting closer to a return from injury: so too is [Elias Lindholm](https://theprovince.com/tag/elias-lindholm/).
The Canucks centre, who has been out of action with a suspected wrist injury, joined his teammates for practice Friday in Los Angeles. Lindholm last played March 23 against the [Calgary Flames](https://calgaryherald.com/category/sports/hockey/nhl/calgary-flames/).
The Canucks had been hush-hush about his injury, only ever describing him as day to day. It’s not known when Lindholm will be ready to play in a game again, but skating as an extra in Friday’s practice is a good sign of progress for him.
After Friday’s practice, [he told Sportsnet](https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/after-slow-start-with-canucks-lindholm-preparing-to-play-best-hockey-in-playoffs/) that the wrist injury had been “brutal.” He injured it a few games before March 23, he said; one source suggested to Postmedia he suffered the injury March 5 in Los Angeles. He was late arriving to the bench following the first intermission in that game, the implication being he injured the wrist in the first period, though a review of video of his shifts didn’t suggest any particular collision that might have cause a wrist injury.
Whenever it was he suffered the injury, he tried to play on, but decided to take some time off to let the injury heal. A hand specialist was also consulted,[ previous reports said.](https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/elias-lindholm-doctor-injury-assessment)
“It’s been kind of brutal to deal with,” Lindholm told Iain Macintyre. “Obviously, you’re using it a lot and when I played it wasn’t getting better. We’re in a pretty good spot (in the standings) so it was a good time to step away and let it heal. I feel pretty good now.”
Head coach Rick Tocchet said after practice — in video shared by the team on social media — that Lindholm has been skating on his own all the while with skills coach Yogi Svejkovksy. Since the injury didn’t affect his legs, he’s been able to remain relatively fit.
How close he is to a return, Tocchet wouldn’t say.
“Is it big step, a small step a medium-sized step? I’ll gauge from him and we’ll go from there,” he said.
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\*Also touches upon Demko being ready sometime next week.
by redslumber
13 Comments
Concerning, but perhaps better than the rumored (speculated) back/hip injury.
poor guy, tbh. I’ve always loved Lindholm as a player, and have been happy to have him on the team. He says it’s “pretty good” but that does not mean “healed”.
I doubt it’ll be fully healed this season… I hope this isnt how his story ends with the Canucks, I hope theres some form of a redemption arch.
Will the real Slim shady Lindholm please stand up
That’s just some Canucks luck. Traded for a UFA rental that Isn’t going to even 100% come playoffs
Just another reason to hate the boring ass Kings. Really hope we can take it to them tonight.
> a review of video of his shifts didn’t suggest any particular collision that might have cause a wrist injury.
It’s Helldivers 2, right? That’s all my friends are talking about
> mplication being he injured the wrist in the first period, though a review of video of his shifts didn’t suggest any particular collision that might have cause a wrist injury.
Good thing we know that bodies never get injured without a collision of some sorts.
I read an interesting stat about Lindholm: when he’s in the lineup, Canucks win 55% of the face offs. Without him, Canucks are 50%. People focus on his scoring or lack thereof, but defence wins games and he seems to be a stalwart there…
U r jealous u didn’t think of it
Nice to finally have an answer to this.
Depth at C is crucial in the playoffs.
I hope he will be ready in a couple of weeks.
depending on what the wrist injury its good they are giving it time to heal, hopefully its not something that needs surgery and he is just going to try to play through the playoffs before eventually getting shut down for being ineffective. If its a sprain then its important when it happened and how severe but obviously the game of hockey can just aggravate this so its smart we aren’t playing him just to be number one in the conference.
Brutal wrist injury but still winning faceoffs like a god? Oh man I can’t wait to see him back healthy.