Vancouver places Manny Malhotra on injured reserve

The Vancouver Canucks announced that the Vancouver Canucks have placed center Manny Malhotra on the injured reserve and will not play again this season.
In a press release, Mike Gillis said:

“The long term health of Manny Malhotra is of utmost importance to our organization. Throughout his career Manny has showcased his indispensability through skilled play, being a consummate professional and leader in the room while also continuously giving back to the community. Manny will continue to be a valued member of our organization.”

Malhotra hasn’t been the same player since suffering an eye injury on March 16, 2011 against the Colorado Avalanche. Malhotra missed the remaining ten games of the 2010-11 season and the first three rounds of the playoffs.

He made a triumphant return to the team during the 2011 Stanley Cup finals where he played all but one game. Placing him on injury reserve will save the Canucks Malhotra’s $2.5 million dollar cap hit and free up a roster spot for the all but confirmed return of Ryan Kesler.

Malhotra hasn’t been the same since his eye injury. His production, not normally what he’s known for has declined, his effectiveness as a two-way player had some what diminished as well. The Canucks will need Ryan Kesler, Max Lapierre and Jordan Schroeder to step up in his absence, though I imagine Kesler and Lapierre more so.

It’s easy to speculate on Manny’s health and assume that being placed on the IR is related to his eye, but one thing is certain, in his two and a half seasons with the Canucks, Manny left his mark on the team, the fans and the community.

A class act all around and will likely, I would imagine, have a long career within the organization.