Vancouver Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson is not expected to return this season due to the left ankle injury he sustained last month, coach Rick Tocchet said.
"No, I don't think so," Tocchet said Wednesday when asked of the potential return of Ekman-Larsson. "He's off the cast, he's walking now, and he's really worked hard the last 3-to-4 weeks and this is a big summer for him."
Ekman-Larsson sustained the injury while attempting to deliver a hit in the first period of the Canucks' 6-4 loss to the New York Rangers on Feb. 15.
The 31-year-old Swede totaled 22 points (two goals, 20 assists) and a minus-24 rating in 54 games this season.
Ekman-Larsson has 439 points (135 goals, 304 assists) in 902 career games with the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes and Canucks. He was selected by the Coyotes with the sixth overall pick of the 2009 NHL Draft.
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