The NHL sets Canucks return to game action for April 16th

When the Vancouver Canucks start playing hockey again, it’ll mark 23 days between games. The NHL has set the Canucks return for April 16th, just five days from now and eight days after the last team member (Nate Schmidt) was added to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list.

Nearly four weeks away from the ice recuperating from a fast-spreading COVID-19 outbreak that decimated 25 members of the organization (21 players and four members of the coaching staff), and the National Hockey League has the Canucks playing 19 games in 31 nights, starting with five games within the first week.

Talk about an uphill battle for a team trying desperately to return to full health. The puck drops on back-to-back nights in a showdown against the two top teams in the division — the Edmonton Oilers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. After that, it’s another battle against the Leafs before games against the Calgary Flames and Ottawa Senators.

At this point in time, it’s unknown who will be ready and available for Friday night’s contest, but the Canucks have made call-ups from the taxi squad as well as from their farm team — the Utica Comets. Even the status of the injured Elias Pettersson is in question. He hasn’t played a game since March 2nd.

While some players finish serving their time in protocol, players like Kole Lind could make their NHL debut — an intriguing reason to tune in to the team’s march towards the end of the 2021 regular season.

Whether it’s with a full NHL-ready roster or if half the team’s AHL players have to fill in for sick players, the NHL is determined to have the Canucks play a game on Friday night. And although it’s exciting to have Vancouver return, you can’t help but question if it’s really worth it for the Canucks. Not to mention, the heavy schedule almost seems unfair.

A lot like how the schedule was put together for Vancouver at the start of the season, the Canucks are in for an exhausting workload. One that feels impossible to complete at a competitive level given the circumstances. Nonetheless, the Canucks won’t shy away from the challenge.

The puck drops at 6:00 p.m. this Friday.