Filip Hronek returns to Canucks following AHL conditioning stint

The Vancouver Canucks will soon have a bolstered blue line as defenseman Filip Hronek is set to return to the lineup, general manager Patrik Allvin announced Monday.

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. In the end, Hronek did not make any appearances with Abbotsford but has rejoined the NHL club ahead of its next game coming Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets.

In all, Hronek has been limited to 21 showings through 2024-25 in which he has collected one goal and eight assists for nine points. On the season, Hronek sits second to only Canucks captain Quinn Hughes in both average ice time, seeing 23:36 a night, and with a plus-14 rating.

The 27-year-old Czech-born blue-liner is one season removed from a career year in which he finished with 48 points counting five goals and 43 assists coming in 81 contests. Hronek also made his first-ever appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring, collecting one goal and one assist for two points in 13 games before the Canucks were eliminated in the second round by the Pacific Division rival Edmonton Oilers.

Originally chosen in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings, Hronek’s career has counted 411 total appearances with the Red Wings and Canucks in which he has recorded 36 goals and 178 assists for 214 points. The Canucks acquired Hronek from the Red Wings ahead of the 2023 trade deadline. Last June, Vancouver extended the defenseman to an eight-year pact that carries a $7.25-million annual average value, per PuckPedia.

Following Saturday’s 3-0 road win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Canucks improved to 19-13-10 on the season to hold down the second wildcard seed in the Western Conference with 48 points.