It has already been reported that before the season, Blüger underwent a small surgical manipulation in the lower part of the body and the striker has only been training after the operation.
So far, the “Canucks” have played five of the six test games, celebrating two victories. Latvian goalkeeper Artūrs Šilovs was also on the ice in two games, but in the last pre-season game, the Vancouver team will host Edmonton “Oilers” hockey players at home on Friday.
“I’ve been skating for a long time and it’s getting better and better every day,” the 30-year-old Latvian forward said on Wednesday after the Canucks practice. “We’ll see if I play on Friday in the last test match, but it’s not just up to me. It will be a joint decision.”
As the forward said, it is never easy to return to the lineup after an injury and it is always a challenge to get back into the rhythm, to regain the speed of skating and thinking.
“I want to play already in the first match of the season and my health has improved in the last couple of weeks. Also, I feel better every day,” said the Latvian striker about the upcoming start of the season. “There is still this that needs to be worked on, but I hope to be in shape to be able to start the season.
Blüger also pointed out that the team has kept its core in the off-season, some players have arrived who have made the squad “deeper” and will be able to help the team if necessary.
In the past season, the Latvian striker participated in 68 games of the regular championship and repeated his productivity record, reaching 28 (6+22) points.
Blügers could have become a free agent in July, but already in June he agreed on a two-year contract extension for a total of 3.6 million US dollars (3.37 million euros).
Blüger joined the Vancouver team before last season, coming from the Vegas “Golden Knights”, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in the 2022/2023 season.
In total, the Latvian striker has played 336 games in the regular NHL championship for the Pittsburgh “Penguins”, “Golden Knights” and “Canucks”, where he has collected 126 (41+85) points, while in the Stanley Cup he has six (2+4) points in 37 matches.
The “Canucks” team entered the Stanley Cup last season after a three-year hiatus, where they lost in the second round.
2024-10-03 16:22:51