Canucks Rumors: Elias Lindholm Could Miss Rest of Regular Season

As Elias Lindholm remains out of the Vancouver Canucks lineup, there is a lot of uncertainty, and even mystery, about what his timeline is for a potential return. 

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said today on the Donnie & Dhali podcast in Vancouver, that it's possible that just maybe  Lindholm might miss the rest of the regular season.

Elliotte Friedman on Elias Lindholm injury : I heard a rumor he might not play the rest of the regular season but multiple people told me I shouldn't go with that.

Complete @FriedgeHNIC interview on @DonnieandDhali and You Tube.

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) April 4, 2024

Lindholm has been difficult to pin down. We knew that there was an issue that he was going to see someone for. I'm not surprised he's missing time. 

I will say this: I heard a rumour that he might not play the rest of the regular season. But I've also had multiple people tell me that you shouldn't go with that. So what it says to me is that it's still kind of in flux and everybody's trying to figure out what the story is with him. I don't necessarily think there's a rush here, but as of the last time I looked into it at the beginning of this week, it was still an unknown.

The veteran center has missed the last five games, during which the Canucks have gone 2-3. There's plenty of mystery around the injury as it's unknown exactly when it was sustained or what it is exactly. But one recent report has suggested it seems to be a hand or wrist injury.

.@irfgaffar on Elias Lindholm's injury timeline:

"Sounds like wrist, hand area...probably wants to get into one, at least two games before they head into the postseason...I do think Demko will play before Lindholm." #Canucks@KalTire | https://t.co/7mDaE8zv9Y

— Sekeres and Price (@sekeresandprice) April 4, 2024

Irfaan Gaffar said on the Sekeres and Price podcast that it "Sounds like wrist, hand area... he had his hand taped in that area... Probably wants to get into one, at least two games before they head into the postseason."

The former fifth-overall pick and pending UFA was acquired earlier this season from the Calgary Flames and hasn't exactly lit it up on the West Coast, recording five goals and nine points in 22 games with Vancouver (Andrei Kuzmenko, who went to Calgary in the trade, has nine goals already with the Flames.).

Either way, it doesn't sound like there's too much concern about Lindholm's availability come Game 1 of the playoffs. 

Photo: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports