Canucks’ Boeser cleared for contact after blood-clot issue last season

Brock Boeser had some positive news to share on Monday.

Speaking to the media at the Jake Milford Golf Tournament for charity, the Vancouver Canucks forward mentioned that he is off blood-thinning medication and has resumed contact training. He had been on the medication for a few months, which delayed some of his off-season training.

“I could still skate and stuff, but I had to be careful just contact-wise,” said Boeser. “But I’ve been off them for a little bit now and I’ve gotten to start doing contact towards the end of summer.

“It’s obviously something that we look back on and it was a tough scenario, but I’m just happy that I can move forward and really focus on this season”

The 27-year-old developed a blood clot in his leg during the Canucks’ second-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers last season. The clot resulted from blocking a shot in Game 1, but it worsened as the series progressed. A scan after Game 6 revealed that the clot had moved from a small vein to a deep vein, causing him to miss the team’s Game 7 elimination loss.

The American was Vancouver’s leading scorer in the regular season with 40 goals and added seven more through 12 playoff games.

According to Boeser, this is something that will be monitored throughout the upcoming season and he will specifically need to be careful on flights.

“You’ve got to kind of be safe on flights and make sure you’re moving around and not sleeping and stuff. It’s still something that we discuss within our training staff.”

Entering the final year of his three-year, $19.95 million contract, Boeser also told reporters Monday that, “coming off the blood clot, I think I’ve got a lot to prove.”