Canucks: Micheal Ferland out for series vs. Wild, what it means

The Vancouver Canucks will be without Micheal Ferland for the remainder of the qualifying round. Here’s what it means.

If the Vancouver Canucks get past the Minnesota Wild and into the round of 16, they’ll have to do it without Micheal Ferland.

On Wednesday evening, the Canucks announced that the 28-year-old is “unfit to play” in the remainder of qualifying round. The team stated that Ferland went home and “will be re-evaluated following the series.”

After making his presence felt all over the ice in Game 1 (a 3-0 loss), Ferland found himself back in the lineup for Game 2. Unfortunately, he was forced to leave the game due to an unspecified injury, having played 2:36 of ice time.

The Canucks managed to defeat the Wild 4-3 to even the series at one game apiece, but Ferland’s loss leaves a gaping hole in the bottom-six.

His physicality, toughness, energy and ability to get under the skin of Minnesota’s gritty forwards cannot be replaced. And without Ferland, Vancouver’s other remaining bottom-six forwards will really have to step up now.

Jake Virtanen, a healthy scratch for Game 1, found himself back in the lineup for Game 2. He was one of Vancouver’s most effective forwards in Tuesday’s win, and with Ferland now sidelined, “Big Jake” will most likely play out the remainder of the series.

Also, head coach Travis Green will surely play Loui Eriksson — who was also out of the lineup for Game 1 — the rest of the way. The 35-year-old racked up 20:07 of ice time in Game 2. He’ll likely be asked to play heavy minutes as a penalty killer and checking forward.

Losing Ferland is a big blow for the Canucks, and you simply have to feel for the energetic forward who’s endured concerning concussion woes throughout his career.

Here’s hoping that the Canucks can get past the Wild, and that they’ll have a healthy, fresh and motivated Ferland back for the round of 16.