Canucks D Pierre-Olivier Joseph activated off injured reserve

Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin announced on Thursday that defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph has been activated from injured reserve.

Joseph had been sidelined with a groin injury, and he was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Sept. 30 on Oct. 7.

Joseph joined the Canucks on Jul. 2 as an unrestricted free agent when he signed a one-year, $775,000 contract to join the club, which will become the third he’s played for at the NHL level when he suits up.

The No. 23 overall pick by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2017 NHL Draft, Joseph has spent the vast majority of the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he debuted in 2020-21 before signing in free agency with the St. Louis Blues in July of 2024.

After a short stint in St. Louis, Joseph was dealt back to the Penguins for future considerations to help stabilize an injury-battered Pittsburgh defense unit.

In his regular season career, the Quebec native has skated in 194 contests while scoring 8 goals and dishing out 32 assists for a total of 40 points.

With Joseph back in the fold, he will slot into the roster spot vacated by Derek Forbort, who is currently on injured reserve. The team currently counts Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek, Marcus Pettersson, Elias Nils Pettersson, Victor Mancini among its stable of defensemen.

The Canucks are in action on Thursday night on the road against the Dallas Stars as they look to level their record at 2-2-0 against the unbeaten Stars after a slow start.

Vancouver started the season with a convincing win over Calgary before falling short in successive games against Edmonton and St. Louis.

After Thursday’s game, the Canucks will continue on the road for a long trip that features stops in Chicago, Washington, Pittsburgh and Nashville before they finally return to British Columbia to face the Canadiens on Oct. 25.