The Vancouver Canucks have lost forward Mikael Samuelsson for two-to-three weeks with what is believed to be a shoulder injury.
As a result, the team recalled Michael Grabner from the American Hockey League. Grabner will play on the second line with Ryan Kesler and Pavol Demitra. Grabner played well with Kesler at the start of the season prior to suffering a couple of injuries.
Samuelsson left the Canucks' 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders in the third period on Tuesday night. He is a tough loss, having scored 30 goals with 23 assists in 70 games.
"We lost Kevin (Bieksa) for a long time and now Willie (Mitchell) for a long time, so we're used to it," said Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows of the Samuelsson injury. "What you need is for other guys to step in, play well, and fill those roles. Now we've got Michael (Grabner) coming up here, and I'm sure he's excited about being here, and he's going to do a great job for us."
Grabner has spent the majority of his time this year with the AHL's Manitoba Moose, where he has 15 goals and 11 assists in 38 games. The 22-year-old also has two goals and three assists in nine games with the Canucks this season.
He was originally drafted in the first round, 14th overall, by the Canucks in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
The Canucks also signed their 2009 first round draft selection, Jordan Schroeder on Wednesday.
The team did not announce the terms of the deal.
The 20-year-old spent the 2009-10 season with University of Minnesota Golden Gophers and picked up nine goals and 19 assists in 37 games. He also helped Team USA to a gold medal in the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship. Schroeder scored three goals with five assists over seven games. He holds the record for most points all-time by an American at the WJC with 27 (20 goals and 7 assists).
In other Canucks news, Nolan Baumgartner has left the team for personal reasons, but is expected back in the next couple of days.
