Canucks’ Filip Hronek expected to return Tuesday against Jets
Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed to the media that defenseman Filip Hronek would return to the lineup Tuesday vs. Winnipeg Jets.
“[Hronek]’s worked really hard. He’s had a lot of skates. Tested himself very hard the last seven days.” Tocchet said.
"[Hronek]'s worked really hard. He's had a lot of skates. Tested himself very hard the last seven days."
🗣 Coach Tocchet speaks on what Filip Hronek brings to the team, and being an Assistant Coach for Canada in the upcoming 4-Nations Face-Off.#Canucks | @theprovince pic.twitter.com/0AIdBxiRTu
Earlier this month, Hronek was assigned to the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks as part of a conditioning stint following his return from lower-body surgery. Hronek did not make any appearances with Abbotsford.
Hronek has racked up one goal and eight assists for nine points in 21 games this season while playing on the top defensive unit with Canucks captain, Quinn Hughes.
The Canucks signed Hronek to an eight-year contract with a $7.25 million cap hit. Hronek was in the final year of a three-year contract with a $4.4 million cap hit that he originally signed with the Detroit Red Wings prior to being traded to Vancouver in 2023.
The 27-year-old is coming off his most successful season in the NHL during the 2023-24 campaign, where he had five goals and 43 assists for 48 points in 81 games with the Canucks. It was a career-high in assists and points, passing his 33-assist mark set in 2021-22 and his 39-point mark set in 2022-23. Hronek added two points in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff contests with Vancouver.
Hronek is a former second-round pick by the Red Wings in the 2016 NHL Draft, making his debut with the team in 2018 and went on to spend parts of five seasons in Detroit before he was surprisingly dealt to the Canucks at the 2023 trade deadline. He’s since spent a bit over a year with the team and is now set to spend another eight.