Canucks activate defenceman Pierre-Olivier Joseph from injured reserved

Joseph was placed on IR last Tuesday ahead of the team’s season opener, retroactive to September 30th. Head Coach Adam Foote shared that the Laval, Quebec native had been suffering from a groin injury that had kept him out of practice in the days leading up to that.

The move to activate Joseph comes after veteran defenceman Derek Forbort was placed on IR on Monday. Forbort’s injury was undisclosed, but the placement is retroactive to October 11th, meaning he will be unable to return until October 18th.

Joseph joined the Canucks organization this past summer, signing a one-year, $775k contract with Vancouver on July 2nd. He split last season between the St. Louis Blues and the Pittsburgh Penguins, the latter being where he played the first four years of his career. In total, Joseph made 47 appearances last season, averaging around 13 minutes a night with the Blues, then seeing that increase to over 17 minutes a game with the Penguins. Over five years in the NHL, the 26-year-old has scored eight goals and 32 assists in 194 games played.

With deep competition for roster spots on the Canucks blue line, Joseph shared what he brings to Vancouver with CanucksArmy.

“I think I’m a two-way defenceman. I can move the puck well. I have a first pass mentality and then join the rush after,” he explained. “I think my hockey IQ is my biggest strength and my skating ability as well. I think moving the puck to the forwards, following them, joining them and creating breakouts easily to allow them to go and attack on the other side. And be as strong defensively as possible.”

On Thursday, Vancouver begins a five-game road trip in Dallas, for the first leg of a back-to-back, set to play the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night. The week rounds out with a Sunday morning contest against the Washington Capitals.