Filip Hronek injury: Top 3 replacements Canucks should consider to fill in for Czech defenseman

The Vancouver Canucks could be without Filip Hronek for the foreseeable future. Hronek, the Canucks top-pairing defenseman, took a hard hit from Jack St. Ivany in the closing moments of the matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night.

It is unclear at this point what the precise nature of the injury is. It is only known that it is an upper-body injury. Reports indicate that the Canucks seem pessimistic about the injury, believing the club will miss Hronek for quite a while.

With that in mind, the Canucks will need to find a replacement for Hronek.

Here’s a look at three players who could step in and fill in for the defenseman while he’s out on injured reserve.

3 replacements for Filip Hronek in the Canucks lineup

#3. Vincent Desharnais

Desharnais has been the Canucks’ seventh defenseman this season. He’s seen limited action this season but should jump into the lineup now, most likely on the bottom pairing with Carson Soucy.

Since Tyler Myers is expected to jump into the top pairing with Hughes, Noah Juulsen would most likely join Erik Brannstrom on the second pairing. That leaves Desharnais to fill out on the bottom.

While Desharnais may get a chance alongside Hughes, coach Rick Tocchet would prefer someone with more puckhandling skills to play with Hughes.

#2. Mark Friedman

PuckPedia reported that the Canucks called up Mark Friedman from Abbotsford on Thursday after Filip Hronek’s injury.

The move corresponds to the need for another defenseman to round out that roster, particularly with Desharnais jumping into the top six.

Friedman won’t likely get into the lineup. If anything, he’ll be the club’s seventh defenseman, providing depth. However, if Desharnais struggles, Friedman could get a shot at playing in the top six, most likely on the bottom pairing.

Depending on how things go, Friedman could leapfrog Desharnais and get into the lineup on Friday afternoon against the Buffalo Sabres. Friedman has not played a game for Vancouver this season, though he appeared in 23 games for the club last year.

#1. Elias Pettersson

The other Elias Pettersson could make the jump to the NHL for the first time this season. He has not played for the big club this season after appearing in the playoffs last year. In 18 AHL games this season. Pettersson has registered five assists.

While Pettersson hasn’t overly impressed in the AHL this season, the Canucks may want to get a look at what they’ve got in Pettersson. He could provide depth, especially as the schedule gets tighter this weekend.