Filip Hronek to make Vancouver Canucks debut Thursday against San Jose Sharks

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek will finally make his debut with the team against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed after the Canucks’ morning skate.

Hronek, 25, recorded nine goals and 38 points while averaging 21:32 in 60 games with the Detroit Red Wings this season. The Canucks acquired Hronek and a 2023 fourth-round pick from the Red Wings on Mar. 1 in exchange for a conditional 2023 first-round pick and a 2023 second-round pick.

At the time of the trade, Hronek was recovering from an upper-body injury. Thursday’s game will be his first since Feb. 28.

Hronek is under contract at a $4.4 million cap hit through the end of the 2023–24 season, at which point he’ll become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. He’ll wear his usual No. 17 with the Canucks.

The Red Wings originally selected Hronek in the second round (No. 53 overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft. The six-foot defenseman, who shoots right, collected 30 goals and 156 points in 305 games over parts of five seasons with the Red Wings to begin his NHL career.

The Canucks and Sharks will take to the ice at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C. at 7:00 p.m. PT on Thursday evening.