Canucks HC Rick Tocchet: Good chance Filip Hronek makes debut Thursday

The Vancouver Canucks are hoping to have one of their top blue liners back soon. Farhan Lalji of TSN reports that head coach Rick Tocchet said Filip Hronek is day-to-day and there is a good chance he will be able to play on Thursday. 

Hronek was acquired by the Canucks in a somewhat surprising trade deadline deal. The Canucks were not expected to be buyers, but offered up a first-round pick and a second-round pick to the Detroit Red Wings for him.

The 25-year-old right defenseman is yet to make his Canucks debut as he has been out of the lineup since Feb. 28 with an upper-body injury. It sounds like he is close to getting back on the ice, and the Canucks may see him join them for the first time when they take on the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

• Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon was a late scratch for Tuesday's game. The team announced he will be out of the lineup with a non-covid illness. Spurgeon has scored 10 goals and 30 points in 70 games for the Wild who are in a tight battle with the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars for positioning in the Central Division. While they will miss his presence against the New Jersey Devils, luckily it does not sound like a long-term absence.
• The Arizona Coyotes announced Zack Kassian would not suit up tonight. The rugged winger is sidelined with an upper-body injury and will miss Tuesday's game against the Winnipeg Jets. The 32 year old has played 51 games for the Coyotes this season, scoring just two goals and zero assists. Kassian has one more year on his contract following this season with a $3.2M cap hit.