Sami Salo hurt yet again
It’s not very easy being Sami Salo. The Finnish defenceman, currently on the Vancouver Canucks, has suffered a freak off-season injury. Salo, an 11-year NHL veteran, will be out indefinitely after suffering a torn Achilles tendon.
A Canucks news release stated that Salo sustained the injury “while training” but Finnish news sources have presented different information. According to those sources, Salo was hurt while playing floor hockey.
As the Canucks press release already said: “There will be no further word from the club or Salo," it is unlikely either party will willingly address the circumstances of the injury.
The Achilles tear is just the latest in a long line of freak injuries that Salo has sustained. The 35-year-old nearly had to sit out the sixth and final game of the Canucks' series against the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2009-10 playoffs after having suffered a swollen t******e from a Duncan Keith slap shot.
The year before that, Salo was limited to 68 regular season appearances due to an assortment of knee, eye, groin, and leg injuries. He then tore his gluteus medius muscle while scoring a goal in the second round of the playoffs against Chicago.
Another strange injury to Salo was a fractured wrist sustained at a 2007 intra-squad friendly. Shortly after returning to play, Salo’s nose was broken by a clearing attempt by teammate Alexander Adler.
While Salo’s injuries are numerous and somewhat weird, this could be a serious setback for the blue-liner who is entering this final contract year with the Canucks. The injury hurts the Canucks' depth when it comes to their defensive lines and almost certainly offers a reprieve for trade bait Kevin Bieksa.
Due to the Canucks’ salary cap woes and the acquisitions of free agents Dan Hamhuis and Keith Ballard, Bieksa’s spot in the roster was uncertain. It is almost certain the Canucks would have unload Bieksa one way or another before the season to slide under the $59-million salary cap, but now he might me around all the way until the middle of the season. Bieksa is also no stranger to injury. He missed a portion of last season after Petr Prucha’s skate severed ankle tendons during a checking play.
Salo himself was considered a trade possibility as a means of alleviating salary cap pressure. He had originally joined the Canucks in 2002-03 through a trade from the Ottawa Senators. That season he played 79 regular season games, a number he has yet to match.
Although Salo has not managed to put up consistent playing time in recent years, he continues to be a strong defender with offensive capability when fit. He can consistently deliver 30 points over the course of a season, and the number would be significantly higher if Salo could maintain his health.
As Salo was the Canucks best defenceman when healthy, Vancouver will also be looking into signing unrestricted free agent and former Canucks player Willie Mitchell. The 33-year-old was one of Vancouver’s top defencemen for the last three years prior to the brutal concussion he sustained 48 games into the season.
If Mitchell has recovered from his post-concussion syndrome, he would be a smart addition to the roster. Bieksa is being kept around, and him and Mitchell have traditionally made a very strong duo. Mitchell’s ‘stay-at-home’ tendencies are a nice complement to the offensive minded Bieksa.
Mitchell, who has always been a great vocal leader, will also be able to really encourage his teammates due to his recovery. If players see Mitchell returning to play after the intense trauma he went through, they will be more likely to motivate themselves to quicker recoveries from various ailments.
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