Nearing return, Canucks' Boeser opens up about first concussion

BOSTON – Even after the game in which he was injured, Brock Boeser couldn’t get away from Tanner Jeannot in Los Angeles.

“We accidentally ran into each other after the game, like in a back hallway,” Boeser told Sportsnet on Monday. “He apologized. It's hard to say if that makes it better. You appreciate it when someone apologizes. Some guys might not apologize because they think they're not in the wrong. But, obviously, he apologized, so he probably felt (the hit) wasn't good. So, yeah, you appreciate that.”

There was nothing accidental about their run-in on the ice on Nov. 7 when Jeannot blindsided Boeser in the neutral zone with a shoulder to the chin that concussed the Vancouver Canucks’ leading goal-scorer. Jeannot was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct, and suspended by the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings’ next three games.

Boeser has missed seven games for the Canucks.

But the 27-year-old who scored 40 goals last season fully practised Monday for the Canucks at Boston University and could return to their lineup against the Bruins on Tuesday night.

Plagued by soft-tissue and bone injuries early in his career, Boeser had never had a concussion as a hockey player. After enduring headaches and a lot of worry this month, not to mention a couple of setbacks in his recovery, he obviously hopes never to have another one.

“The first week was pretty tough,” Boeser said. “I tried to bike a few times and I wasn't reacting super well to that. My head started to hurt and I was getting a little nauseous, so we took some time off to try and just let me rest and heal up. But I kept getting treatment on my neck and all that stuff. When I came back and did the steps (the NHL’s concussion protocol), I started feeling better the second time around.

“I mean, it sucks. It's not fun sitting at home and your head just doesn't stop hurting. It can be frustrating; you’ve got to have a lot of patience with this type of injury. I feel like that's what I've learned through this whole process. But I'm feeling better, and I'm just happy that it's not (worse). I've seen other teammates go through concussions, and it turned into months.”

He said suffering a head injury is different than hurting a groin or wrist or back.

“I think with those types of injuries, you kind of know you're getting better,” he explained. “But I mean, it's my head and I've never really experienced this situation before. I feel like you can overthink it easily. I've talked to other guys who have had concussions, and you feel good and then you just start overthinking it. And then you might just give yourself a headache. This is something I haven't gone through, but I've been skating pretty hard for a bit now and I've been feeling good.”

Interestingly, he skated Monday alongside centre Teddy Blueger and left winger Danton Heinen. Canucks coach Rick Tocchet wasn’t going to change the newly formed top line of Elias Pettersson between wingers Jake DeBrusk and Kiefer Sherwood — the trio combined for three goals and seven points in Vancouver’s 4-3 win Saturday in Ottawa — although Boeser replaced Sherwood in the bumper spot of the first-unit power play.

“It's not even about first, second or third line,” Tocchet said. “It's just about ... a puzzle, you know? And we'll see where Brock plays.”

Tocchet was impressed how Boeser handled the intensity and contact of Monday’s practice, and said he would talk to the player later in the day to see if he was feeling any effects.

If Boeser is symptom-free and feels ready to play on Tuesday, he’ll be the first of three key players to return to the Canucks. No. 1 goalie Thatcher Demko had another impressive practice here Monday but hasn’t played since injuring the popliteus muscle in his knee seven months ago. Top centre J.T. Miller, Boeser’s usual linemate, is on a leave of absence for personal reasons.

Boeser had six goals and 11 points in the first 11 games before he was injured. If he wasn’t the Canucks’ best forward during that time, then he was second to Conor Garland.

“For Brock, for our team, he's our scorer, right?” Tocchet said. “So you're just adding a guy that can instantly add offence. But we've got to stay with the identity of our team, and Brock's part of that. Brock plays the game really well without the puck. He's usually out there last minute of the game if we're up a goal, so you're adding a scorer, but you're also adding a system guy, which is great.”

Boeser’s injury came just before the Canucks opened a six-game homestand in which they lost four times in regulation. The win in Ottawa was the team’s seventh straight road victory.

“It sucks that I couldn't be with them,” he said of the homestand. “There were days that I went there (to the rink) and I was feeling great. And then you do some stuff and you're not feeling so great after it. You kind of get your hopes up and think maybe you'll take those steps as fast as you can. And then you kind of get a little setback, so it was obviously really frustrating.

“But, you know, it's a long season. We're still learning (as a team). We obviously know that we need to be better at home. And luckily our team played a great game last game and we got a big win to start off this road trip. So I think that's where kind of our focus stands right now.”

One thing Boeser said he hasn’t thought about is his contract. He is eligible for unrestricted free agency — and a huge payday — after this season, so staying healthy has financial ramifications.

“This time around for my contract, I'm not really stressing about it,” Boeser said. “When I was younger, I was stressing way more. I remember going through it before. But this time around, I feel relaxed about it. I feel, you know, whatever happens, happens. I took a big step last year, so I'm really just focused on continuing to build off that and continuing to play the right way.”

• Another guy returning to the lineup Tuesday is Norris Trophy-winning defenceman Quinn Hughes, who on Saturday was assessed the first major penalty and game misconduct of his life when the Canuck captain cross-checked Josh Norris to his knees behind the Vancouver net and the Senator cut his mouth against the top of the boards.

“That's a play I make all the time,” Hughes said. “I'm just trying to push the guy up against the wall. But I think he was looking for the puck and the puck came slower than he thought, so he kind of (moved) this way and I caught him in a bad spot. I'm glad he's all right. We're very close. I felt bad, but I'm glad nothing came out of it. We're really close; we were roommates at school.”

As he processed the major penalty at 12:29 of the first period, Hughes left the ice and quickly changed in the Canucks dressing room so he could check on Norris, a teammate at the University of Michigan and the U.S. National Team Development Program.

“I thought I was going to get two (minutes) but I got the five and got kicked out,” Hughes said. “I got undressed in, like, a minute and I went over to the Ottawa room. He was already back on the bench.”