Daniel Sedin Injury: Updates on Canucks Star's Head Injury

Vancouver Canucks star winger Daniel Sedin was not at the team's practice on Tuesday as he recovers from a concussion suffered on March 21 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

UPDATE: Wednesday, April 18 at 3:20 p.m. ET

Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times asked Sedin directly if he expects to play against the Kings on Wednesday night. Here's his answer:

"

Q: Right at this pt are you expecting to play today? DS: Yeah. Absolutely.

— lisa dillman (@reallisa) April 18, 2012"

There you have it.

The game starts at 10:00 p.m. ET.

UPDATE: Wednesday, April 18 at 2:50 p.m. ET

Daniel Sedin might just be able to return for the Canucks on Wednesday night. The team passed along this update on Twitter this afternoon:

"

Daniel Sedin is a game-time decision, but he's "looking good" #Canucks

— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) April 18, 2012"

Sedin was able to skate on Tuesday for the first time since April 9th. He hasn't played since March 21st with a concussion.

The Canucks could certainly use Sedin's help. They trail the Los Angeles Kings 3-0 in their first-round series.

UPDATE: Tuesday, April 17 at 5:30 p.m. ET

Jason Botchford of The Province has a report on Sedin's skate with the Canucks on Tuesday. Apparently, Sedin was the first Canuck to walk into the Toyota Sports Center today, and he took the ice just before his twin brother, Henrik.

Botchford notes that the Canucks brass was on hand to watch Sedin's skate, his first since April 9th. Not surprisingly, there is still no indication that Sedin will be able to play in Game 4 of Vancouver's first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. The Canucks trail the series 3-0.

Sedin is attempting to return from a concussion he suffered in March. When he last skated on April 9th, it is believed that he suffered a setback.

Take this update for what it's worth. Sedin is skating again, but that does not mean he's ready to play in a game yet. That update will come soon enough.

UPDATE: Monday, April 16 at 5:30 p.m. ET

Well, there is some good news for the Vancouver Canucks—Daniel Sedin is set to rejoin the team for in Los Angeles and may be available for Game 4. From Derek Jory at Canucks.com:

"

Daniel Sedin, who has not played since suffering a concussion at the hands of Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith on March 21st, will arrive in Los Angeles today to hopefully rejoin the Canucks for Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarter-Final.

The forward, who led Vancouver in scoring with 30 goals, will practice with the Canucks Tuesday and hopes to play Wednesday, but that has yet to be confirmed.

”Daniel is continuing to follow the protocol, he’s been cleared for practice with the team, so he’s flying in later on this afternoon,” said coach Alain Vigneault, outside the team hotel Monday afternoon.

"

The top-seeded Canucks need all the help they can get right now, trailing 3-0 to the Kings. If Sedin is able to play, it might provide a much-needed spark.

UPDATE: Saturday, April 14

Daniel Sedin won't travel with the Canucks to Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4 against the Kings, and he won't be available for the remainder of this series.

"

I've been told not only will Daniel Sedin not travel to LA for Games 3 and 4- he will not be available at all in this series

— Kristin Reid (@reidder) April 14, 2012"

This is a huge loss for the Canucks, who need some of Sedin's goal scoring to come back from the 0-2 series deficit they are in right now. If Ryan Kesler, Henrik Sedin and Alex Burrows don't step up in Daniel's absence, then Vancouver will be upset by the Kings and start their summer vacation early.

UPDATE: Friday, April 13, 7:46 p.m. ET by Nicholas Goss

Daniel Sedin won't play in Game 2 Friday night, according to CBC Sports.

"

Daniel Sedin won't play against Kings in Game 2: HNIC #CBCSports #HNIC

— CBCSports TopStories (@cbcsports) April 13, 2012"

Sedin didn't play in Game 1 either, and his status for Game 3 in Los Angeles is uncertain. With the Canucks facing the possiblilty of being down 0-2 in the series after tonight, not having Sedin could be a major problem for Vancouver.

Sedin was their leading goal scorer this season. Without one of their best offensive threats, Canucks forwards such as Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows will have to raise their game.

UPDATE: Friday, April 13, 1:25 p.m. ET by Wes O'Donnell

After missing the first game of the his series against the Los Angeles Kings, Daniel Sedin took to the ice this morning by himself to test out his injured brain.

According to Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun two eyewitnesses reportedly saw the star during his skate before other players arrived:

"

According to two eyewitnesses, injured Vancouver Canuck winger Daniel Sedin skated on his own this morning at Rogers Arena between 8:50 and 9:20.

He then left the ice before a small group of players - Marc-Andre Gragnani, Andrew Alberts, Aaron Volpatti and the suspended Byron Bitz - came out for a pre-practice practice with skills coach Glenn Carnegie.

"

Sedin participated in practice with the team only once since the incident and reportedly didn't play in Game 1 after suffering a headache when trying to skate.

The Canucks dropped Game 1 to the upstart Kings and they are in danger of losing both home games with their star winger on the ice.

Only time will tell if he takes the ice for Game 2 tonight at 7 p.m. PT.

UPDATE: Wednesday, April 11, 2:45 p.m. ET by Donald Wood

The reports from Sedin’s father about Daniel missing the Canucks first game of the first round of the NHL playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings has been confirmed by the organization today.

Vancouver Province Canucks beat writer Ben Kuzma is reporting about what head coach Alain Vigneault said about the situation:

"

More Vigneault on D. Sedin: "He's not going to play tonight. I don't know if the information his father said is totally true."

— Ben Kuzma (@benkuzma) April 11, 2012"

Despite the loss of one of the team’s two star Sedins, the Kings are not match for the stellar offense and lockdown defense of the Canucks. Vancouver would be smart to sit Sedin until he is 100 percent ready. It’s not worth it to mess with concussions.

UPDATE: Wednesday, April 11, 12:01 p.m. ET by Donald Wood

With Round 1 of the 2012 NHL playoffs about to commence, there are serious questions surrounding the health of one of Vancouver’s biggest playmakers Daniel Sedin. Now it looks like the star will miss at least Game 1 of the team’s series against the Los Angeles Kings.

Sportsnet.ca is reporting via a Swedish website about Daniel Sedin’s Game 1 status:

"

According to a report from Swedish news website Allehanda.se, Daniel Sedin will not play in Game 1 of the Vancouver Canucks' opening-round series versus the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night.

"

As big of a blow as this is, the team’s first round opponent isn’t playing great right now. As long as the President’s Trophy winning Canucks can hold off the Kings, they will by their star enough time to come back healthy.

UPDATE: Tuesday, April 10 at 3:31 p.m. ET

Sedin did not practice with the Canucks on Tuesday, but he did skate with the "black aces" (players who are not normally expected to play) afterward. Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault said that Sedin has not suffered a setback in his recovery.

Here is some more information, via TSN's Darren Dreger.

"

Daniel Sedin's absence from practice today was part of a recovery plan, but the team remains unsure at this point to his status for gm 1.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) April 10, 2012"

Sedin skated Monday on his own at Canucks practice, and his brother Henrik said he was "100 percent," but this latest news doesn't seem encouraging.

According to the Vancouver Sun, veteran winger Mason Raymond skated in Sedin's spot on the Canucks' top line at Tuesday's practice. Maxim Lapierre skated with the second line alongside Ryan Kesler and David Booth, filling in for Raymond.

Vancouver opens up its first-round series with the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, and it will need Sedin's offense against the team with the second-best goals against average in the NHL.

Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick is a top Vezina Trophy candidate this season, which means the Canucks will need their leading goal scorer to have the best chance to advance to the second round.

On Tuesday, Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault talked about Sedin's skate and the decision on his return.

"

“That is not going to be my decision, it’s going to be a medical decision,” he said. “He skated today for the first time with his teammates and we’ll see how he is doing tomorrow and we’ll take it from there.” 

"

Check back here for the latest updates as they become available on Sedin's condition throughout the playoffs.

Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.