One of the best stories of the Canucks season has taken a sudden turn.
Derek Dorsett has been a key player for the Canucks, partnering with Brandon Sutter on a checking line that regularly plays big minutes against the best players in the NHL. On top of his defensive responsibilities, Dorsett has kicked in more than his fair share of offence, scoring seven goals in twenty games.
On Tuesday, however, he left the Canucks on their current road trip and flew back to Vancouver. The Canucks report that he was experiencing “symptoms of neck and back stiffness.” Those symptoms, on their own, are mildly concerning, but when presented in the context of his spinal surgery from last season, there is significantly more reason to be concerned and cautious.
Dorsett’s 2016-17 season ended after just 14 games when he began experiencing numbness after taking hits. The last straw came when both his arms went numb after a hit in a game against the Arizona Coyotes.
That led to cervical fusion surgery: his vocal cords had to be moved aside to remove a disc from his neck, which was replaced by a bone graft consisting of a washer and bone removed from his hip. A metal plate and screws were added to provide additional stability and to help the fusion process.
Full recovery from cervical fusion surgery can take up to eight months, with the fusion continuing for 12-18 months. Dorsett’s surgery took place last December and he was cleared to play in mid-summer and was ready for Canucks training camp. There’s no indication that Dorsett was rushed back into action, as his return to the ice fits the usual timeline.
That said, Dorsett went from zero to sixty in seconds flat, averaging over 15 minutes per game. It was the most he’s played in five years. On top of that, he continued to play his aggressively physical style, leading the Canucks in hits and getting into four fights. The play-style is understandable — that’s just the way he needs to play to stay in the lineup — but the fights seem ill-advised.
"I don't want to talk like it was a remarkable comeback, it still is." Coach Green discusses the Dorsett news. pic.twitter.com/B6pH1KjoPX
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 21, 2017
Dorsett will receive further evaluation in Vancouver from a specialist. It’s possible that these symptoms are unrelated to his injury and surgery or that they’re not serious and won’t impact his career or quality of life. The Canucks should take every precaution and make sure Dorsett is completely recovered and healthy before considering getting him back in the lineup.
In the meantime, Brendan Gaunce will come into the lineup for Dorsett, skating on the checking line with Sutter. Gaunce is a legitimate shutdown winger, with a proven ability to suppress shots, though he lacks the physical game of Dorsett. It remains to be seen if Travis Green will depend as much on his checking line in the games to come without Dorsett.
