Canucks place Filip Chytil, Jonathan Lekkerimaki on injured reserve

The Vancouver Canucks‘ depth is about to be tested.

Forwards Filip Chytil and Jonathan Lekkerimäki were placed on injured reserve, the team announced on Monday.

Meanwhile, defenceman Victor Mancini was assigned to AHL Abbotsford while forward Joseph LaBate and defenceman Jimmy Schuldt were recalled from the farm team.

Nils Hoglander, who has yet to play a game this season, was transferred to long-term injured reserve, retroactive to Oct. 7.

Both Chytil and Lekkerimäki were injured during the team’s 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals on Sunday. Chytil exited after an open-ice hit from Tom Wilson — who is not expected to face discipline for the play — while Lekkerimäki left after taking a hard hit against the boards.

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The injuries represent the latest blow to a Vancouver team that was forced to play that game without Brock Boeser, who was absent for personal reasons.

Chytil, who had to be helped off by trainers, had gotten off to a solid start in his first full season with the Canucks, tallying three goals in the team’s first five games. He was part of the trade last season that sent J.T. Miller to the New York Rangers.

However, he has a history of head injuries and missed the end of the 2024-25 season after suffering a concussion in March. He played only 10 games in the 2023-24 season with the Rangers after sustaining a concussion in November.

Lekkerimäki, 21, has one goal in four games after breaking training camp with the team. The 2022 first-round pick made his NHL debut last season, recording six points (three goals, three assists) in 24 contests.

The exact nature of his injury is unclear.

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Mancini, 23, came along with Chytil in the Miller trade. In 20 games as a Canuck, he has one goal and two assists.

LaBate, 32, made his NHL debut with the Canucks during the 2016-17 season, failing to record a point in 13 games. He then spent eight seasons out of the league before returning last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he notched his first point (an assist) over six games.

Schuldt, 30, has appeared in nine career games prior to this season with the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks.

The Canucks continue their road trip with stops in Pittsburgh on Tuesday and Nashville on Thursday before returning home to host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.