Remembers injured Canucks Jack Rathbone

Article content

It looks like Jack Rathbone is set to play a late season role for the Vancouver Canucks.

Article content

With the Blues severely suppressed, the Vancouver Canucks dropped the AHL depth chart again on Friday, and Rathbun was called up ahead of Saturday’s game in Dallas against the Stars.

Article content

Rathbone’s call follows the Canucks’ loss of three defensemen this week, which means six defensemen are now unavailable due to injury.

Canucks head coach Rick Toschi revealed after their 7-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks last Thursday that defenseman Noah Yoolsen’s season is over.

The veteran has suffered a lower-body injury — CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal reported an ankle injury — and Touchet said the injury is showing up week after week. There are less than three weeks left in the season, so there is a chance that Gulsen will return, but his run is very short.

Article content

It’s a blow for Jolsen, who played well alongside Quinn Hughes.

“Hoji really enjoys playing with him,” said Touchet.

Toucher said the injury to defender Guillaume Brisbois was awe-inspiring, although less obvious.

“Breeze takes care of two things. Hopefully we can get him back out there,” he said.

Since he was unable to play on Thursday, Ethan Bear, usually a right-sided defender, switched to the left and started the match as partner for Philip Heronic.

But that plan quickly fell apart when Christian Wolanen, the team’s only linebacker after Quinn Hughes, came off the bench after just three periods.

Touchet said he did not know when Wolanin was injured and had no updates on his condition.

Article content

Given that the Canucks have already used up their four call-ups by the post-trading deadline, bringing Rathbone into the fold is only possible as an emergency call-up, an option if Wolanin and Brisebois can’t play on Saturday.

Rathbone was mostly a substitute in the first half of the season for coach Bruce Boudreau. He was reassigned to AHL Abbotsford on November 29 and has not been called up since.

After a solid season in the AHL last year, he has struggled with injuries this season and has scored just 12 points in 32 games. He had 40 points in 39 games last season.

pjohnston@postmedia.com

twitter.com/risingaction