That Can’t Be Good
Vancouver Canucks goalie in the wings, Eddie Lack, has had successful hip surgery and will miss the remainder of the season. Lack, who signed a two-year, two-way deal this summer with the Canucks, has been out since November with hip related issues.
Mike Gillis said in a statement on the Canucks website today:
“After consultation with our team physicians, it was deemed that Eddie Lack would require a procedure on his hip. We expect Eddie to make a complete recovery and continue his professional career after a successful rehabilitation program.”
Lack missing the next six months to rehab and recover may make it hard for him to challenge for a number one role with the team next season, though, I would suspect that he’s ready to go by the time training camp begins next September.
Eddie Lack, has had successful hip surgery
How does this impact the Roberto Luongo trade?
Personally, I don’t expect this to affect a potential trade involving Roberto Luongo. I didn’t think Lack would play in the NHL this season in a full time backup role, or challenge for the starting job.
If Luongo was or is going to be traded this season I think the Canucks would try to bring in a veteran backup – Then when training camp came around in the fall, Lack would be ready to go and to contend for a spot in Vancouver’s crease.
Hang on a second…
Another thing to note is that when Eddie Lack re-signed with the team as a restricted free agent this past summer, the first year of his new deal was a two-way deal in year one (this season) and a one-way deal next season.
That led me to believe that there was a plan in place to not have Lack here this season in a full time roll, perhaps having him come up and play if needed.
However, as Thomas Drance over at Canucks Army noted that Lack still may be waiver exempt next season, if the Canucks choose to send him back to the American Hockey League.
“Because he signed his ELC three years ago at the age of 22, has yet to play 60 NHL games, he remains waiver exempt according to article 13.4 of the previous collective bargaining agreement. That presumes that waiver exemption rules under the new collective bargaining agreement – which is still being finalized – remain more or less unchanged (with the exception of the elimination of re-entry waivers, of course) from the previous agreement.”
If true, it could mean that the Canucks can send Lack back to the American Hockey League without losing him on waivers, and if Roberto Luongo isn’t traded, this could work well in their favor.
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