Canucks announce Nils Höglander out 8-10 weeks after lower-body surgery

Höglander left in the second period of the Canucks’ second preseason game against the Calgary Flames in the Abbotsford Centre. Flames defenceman Etienne Morin hits Höglander into the boards at the centre line, and he comes out of the hit skating a little funny. He would finish the shift, but would not return to the game afterwards.

The 24-year-old winger skated on a line with Teddy Blueger and Conor Garland during training camp. Höglander was sent to Seattle for their preseason opener against the Kraken, taking Evander Kane’s spot on a line with Filip Chytil and Jonathan Lekkerimäki. The trio would not factor in the scoring, all finishing the game with minus-2 ratings. Höglander failed to register a shot on goal, but landed two hits in 19:37 minutes of ice time in the contest.

Höglander suited up in Vancouver’s second preseason game, where he scored the opening goal of the contest at the net front on the power play.

That would be his only shot of the game before he exited with an injury. Following the game, TSN’s Farhan Lalji reported that Höglander was seen leaving the rink in a walking boot.

The 5’9″ Swede is entering year one of a three-year, $9 million contract extension he signed on October 6, 2024, three days before opening night of the season. Höglander had a down 2024-25 campaign following a 24-goal, 36-point breakout 2023-24 season. He scored just eight goals and 25 points in 72 games, finishing with a plus-5 rating in 12:08 minutes of average ice time.

Höglander started to find his game again as the Canucks made their playoff push. After the 4 Nations Face-off, Höglander was trusted in a top-six role, oftentimes playing with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser. Höglander scored four goals and 13 points over a 19-game span.

With Höglander now on the shelf until at least the end of November, that opens the door for NHL hopefuls like Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Aatu Räty, Linus Karlsson, Arshdeep Bains, Max Sasson and Braeden Cootes who could potentially fill the void Höglander leaves in the lineup.