Vancouver Canucks Insider Update: Defensive Core Injuries a Frustrating Problem

VANCOUVER—"Defense wins championships." Canucks followers can relate to this quote particularly well these last few weeks.

The Vancouver Canucks suffered a 3-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Thursday. As much as the forwards tried to reduce opponents getting scoring chances in their own zone, the Canucks suffered both defensively and offensively Thursday.

Missing five of their top seven players on defense, the Canucks called up prospect Evan Oberg from Manitoba Moose in the middle of a Moose game on Wednesday and immediately stopped play to hop on a plane to Nashville. Oberg played in just his third NHL game, all with the Canucks.

The depleted lineup was forced to use the 13th defenseman this season.

What everybody wants to know by now is how these 5 players are doing. My job is to try and be as informative as I can, and give you the latest based on what I heard.

1. Alexander Edler: Based on their results of Edler's surgery on January 31, he is hopeful to return to the Canucks ahead of schedule and finish the season on the Canucks blue line. The approximate recovery timetable for this type of operation is three months.—Iain McIntyre of TheVancouverSun 

Joseph's Input: He will try and best that recovery span. Canucks can expect Edler to be in the lineup sometime in the first round of playoffs. Mike Gillis does not think so, but it's up to the player when he is healed up and ready to go.

2. Andrew Alberts: He broke his wrist against the St.Louis Blues and will miss 6-to-8 weeks after having surgery to repair it. 

Joseph's Input: The defense will miss Alberts' physicality and dependable play in the defensive zone. Estimated time is that Alberts will be back in the middle of 1st round, or 2nd round of playoff action.

3. Kevin Bieksa: Bieksa took a shot off the left foot and he had an x-ray showing negative. Yet, he took a CAT scan, and it revealed a hairline fracture in his left foot. -Canadian Press, Ben Kouzma of The Province

Joseph's Input: Having experienced this type of injury in my family, I know it will take 3-4 weeks for the bones to repair themselves. The pain should go away in 1-2 weeks time. Bieksa is a tough player and should be back around early March for the stretch drive.

4. Dan Hamhuis: The report from the words of Alain Vigneault pre-game against the Predators is that Dan is coming along nicely with his concussion-like symptoms. They are taking him through the tests and the coach says Hamhuis will be back on the ice in a couple of days, meaning today, tomorrow or the next day. —Jim Jamieson of The Province

Joseph's Input: It sure sounds like great news for Canucks that Hamhuis is reacting positively to the rest he is getting sitting out in Vancouver. It will take less time to get back to game shape the less time he misses with symptoms from a concussion. Count on him not to watch his pass so intently next time.

5. Keith Ballard: The good news with Keith is that the injury did not end up as serious as initially believed. Ballard has also regained health quickly, so he should be back at the rink within one week's time. Soon after that, Ballard should be in the lineup again. Ballard has turned into a calming presence and good mentor for the young defense partners that came up from Manitoba. -—ain McIntyre of TheVancouverSun, 1310 News Radio

Joseph's Input: The playoffs aren't near yet, but I have a feeling that this off-season acquisition will prove to be the difference-maker come playoff time. Keith Ballard has a great hip check, he can make the first pass and he knows when to join the rush and when to stay back. Yes, we did give up Michael Grabner and Quinton Howdon, but this deal will pay off when playoffs arrive.

Thank you for following your Vancouver Canucks.

This is Joseph Trenton

Follow me on Twitter @TrentonNHL