Canucks place Dakota Joshua on injured reserve, Carson Soucy on LTIR

The Vancouver Canucks made a couple of moves to free up some roster and cap space.

On Wednesday, the team announced they are placing forward Dakota Joshua on injured reserve, also adding Carson Soucy to long-term injured reserve.

The Canucks also called up defenseman Jett Woo from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks.

Joshua’s move to IR is retroactive to Feb. 13, when he injured his hand during a fight with MacKenzie Entwistle of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Head coach Rick Tocchet told the media last Friday that Joshua is week-to-week, but is unsure if the 27-year-old will be able to return in a week or two.

Joshua is in the middle of a career year. Through 53 games, the former St. Louis Blue has 13 goals and 13 assists, both career highs. He scored a goal and two assists in his last game against the Blackhawks.

Soucy’s placement on LTIR is retroactive to Jan. 20, when also suffered a hand injury during Vancouver’s matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was already on IR, but the move to LTIR frees up some cap space for the Canucks if they wanted to make a move heading into the deadline.

Since Soucy has missed the minimum 10 games or 24 days, he could return to the lineup whenever he is healthy.

The 29-year-old has been banged up quite a bit this season, having played just 21 games, registering just two goals and four assists.

This is Woo’s second call-up to Vancouver this season, as he was recalled shortly after Soucy was placed on IR, but was sent back down to Abbotsford last Saturday. The Winnipeg native has yet to make his NHL debut

Woo has been in the Canucks’ organization dating back to when their primary affiliate was in Utica. In 44 games this season, the 23-year-old has five goals and 13 assists. In 182 AHL games, Woo has registered 17 goals and 35 assists.

The Canucks (37-15-6), currently on a three-game losing streak, are set to visit the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night. They still hold the best record in the NHL, two points ahead of the Florida Panthers.