Canucks Teddy Blueger: Back and Better Than Ever
It’s been a brutal start to the season for the Vancouver Canucks’ Teddy Blueger. Between a lingering lower-body injury and a couple of setbacks that kept him out of the lineup for months, the 31-year-old center has faced one of the toughest stretches of his career. From early October through mid-January, Blueger appeared in just a handful of games, and even when he skated, it wasn’t at full speed. Vancouver watched, waiting for him to return, knowing that a player of his experience and steady presence could make a difference—but there was no timetable, no guarantees.
Blueger Returned to the Ice in Late January.
When he finally got back on the ice in late January, it was clear he wasn’t the same player who had just been iced by injury. Blueger eased back in carefully, scoring a shorthanded goal against the Devils in his second game and adding another goal versus the Penguins a few nights later. In those first few appearances, he was still shaking off the rust, logging hits, getting involved on the boards, and reminding everyone that he could contribute even in limited minutes. It wasn’t about gaudy stats—it was about regaining the pace, timing, and confidence that injuries had stolen.
Since returning fully, though, Blueger has looked like a man on a mission. Over the last stretch of seven games, he’s notched five points, including a shorthanded empty-net goal against the Ducks, logged solid shot totals, and brought a physical presence with hits and blocks. He’s played with urgency, tracked well defensively, and made the kind of decisions that make a bottom-six center valuable beyond the scoresheet. In a Vancouver lineup that’s been searching for stability, he’s quietly become one of the few players the team can lean on night in and night out.
Blueger’s Return from LTIR Has Been Tough.
Blueger’s journey this season underscores just how difficult it is to come back from long-term injury (LTIR) in the NHL. There were low points, moments where it looked like he might need more time, and games where he barely touched the ice. But now he’s found his rhythm, his confidence, and his role. He’s the kind of player the Canucks should keep around no matter how much roster tinkering happens this year—a reliable, gritty center who can push the play, chip in offensively, and anchor the middle of the lineup.
In a season that’s already been uneven and frustrating for Vancouver, Blueger is a small bright spot, a reminder that even through injuries and setbacks, a player’s value can come back stronger than ever. He’s not flashy, he’s not a highlight reel every night, but he’s exactly the type of steadying influence a team in transition needs.