Filip Hronek Has Surgery, To Miss Significant Time For Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks have taken a big blow to their blueline for an extended period, as the team announced that key defenseman Filip Hronek underwent surgery and will be out of the lineup for two months.

General Manager Patrik Allvin provides an update on Filip Hronek: pic.twitter.com/qKvHAeQnRO
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 3, 2024

Hronek was injured last week after taking a hit into the boards, and suffering what appeared almost certainly to be a serious shoulder injury. But according to GM Patrik Allvin, that "upper-body injury" will not require surgery; instead, it is a lower-body issue that required him to go under the knife.

Looks like Hronek got injured on this play late in the third period last night.

🎥: Sportsnet | NHL https://t.co/Nlc7dtFIiO pic.twitter.com/xSTqOxupIN
— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) November 28, 2024

It'll now be at least the end of January before the workhorse D-man can return. Whether the Canucks have made a move to beef up their blueline by then remains to be seen. Derek Forbort has also missed all but four games this season though he could be back at any time. He's been out with a knee injury and has been week-to-week for the past month.

As for Hronek, a shoulder injury is what ended his season back in 2023 soon after the Canucks acquired him; it hasn't been confirmed if his recent "upper-body" problem is related.

The 27-year-old signed an 8-year contract with a $7.25M AAV with the team this past summer after posting a career-high 48 points in his first full year in Vancouver. He also had a plus/minus rating of +33.

This year, in 21 games, once again playing 23½ minutes a night, he has nine points and a +14 rating. He leaves a big gaping hole on the Canucks blueline for the next eight weeks.