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Vancouver Canucks recall Adam Gaudette with Pettersson & Beagle injured
October 15, 2018, 2:09 PM ET [671 Comments]
Carol Schram
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The Vancouver Canucks don't get back to game action until Tuesday, but they've touched down in Pittsburgh and practiced this morning, and there's plenty of chatter surrounding the team.

First off: Mike Matheson has had his phone hearing for his hit on Elias Pettersson.




As of 10:30 a.m. PT, no verdict has been announced yet by the league.

Here's a glimpse of the strategy employed by the defense. Not surprisingly, Pettersson's weight comes into play:




With the Canucks in Pittsburgh, Vancouver media reps were able to get feedback from Sidney Crosby, who knows how it feels to be in Pettersson's skates:







Here's the latest update on the health of our young hero:




As I mentioned yesterday, there is concern in some circles about Pettersson flying after his injury but it seems like so far, everything's OK. I'm crossing my fingers that the team is erring on the side of caution in keeping him out of the lineup.

The Canucks return to Rogers Arena on Saturday to take on the Boston Bruins, one week to the day after Matheson's hit. Looks like that would be the earliest possible date for a return, if all goes well this week.

Meanwhile...




Down two centres, Adam Gaudette was indeed recalled from the Comets after an outstanding three-point game in Toronto against the Marlies on Saturday:







With all the changes, here's how the lines are shaking down at Monday's practice in Pittsburgh:




Gaudette slides straight into EP's spot, and onto the second power-play unit, while Markus Granlund moves to the middle on the fourth line.

Speaking of Utica, the Comets followed up their 7-4 win over the Marlies on Saturday with a 5-3 victory on Sunday. The team may have something in 22-year-old Belarusian goaltender Ivan Kulbakov, who started both games and stopped 38 of 41 shots in a more competitive game on Sunday. The Marlies took the early lead on a goal by Trevor Moore, but Utica responded with goals from Zack MacEwen, Michael Carcone, Reid Boucher, Guillaume Brisebois and Cam Darcy—into the empty net.

With eight goals in five games, Boucher has lapped the rest of the AHL field: no other player in the league has more than four.

Also speaking of Utica—yes, Alex Biega cleared waivers, so he'll be joining the team soon.

With a 3-2 record, just like their parent club, the Comets now return home for games against Rochester on Wednesday and Cleveland on Friday before visiting Syracuse on Saturday.

Meanwhile, on the college front—on his 19th birthday, Quinn Hughes had the opportunity to face off, literally, against his brother Jack when Michigan took on the U.S. NTDP in an exhibition game on Sunday.




Jack had a goal and two assists in the 6-3 win for the NTDP, while Quinn and fellow Canucks prospect Will Lockwood were both held pointless.

Michigan has played just one NCAA league game so far. Lockwood had a goal but Hughes was pointless in the Wolverines' 5-2 loss to Vermont on October 6.

Finally, Trevor Linden made his first media appearance since leaving the position of Canucks' president on Sportsnet 650 on Monday morning.

After media appearances from Francesco Aqulini and Mike Gillis last week, I wondered if Linden would sling any mud in retaliation, but he took the high road.







Linden is keeping his chin up, back to focusing on his fitness ventures.
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