The Vancouver Canucks confirmed Monday that forward Tanner Pearson has suffered two setbacks in his recovery from a hand injury he sustained in November. But amid questions raised about the care Pearson’s received from the team’s medical staff, Canucks president Jim Rutherford told reporters the organization is comfortable with how the situation was handled.
Pearson first suffered the hand injury on Nov. 9, and underwent an initial surgery that placed his return timeline at four-to-six weeks. On Jan. 12, it was announced the winger had undergone his third hand surgery since November, and would miss the remainder of the 2022-23 season. Asked about the situation soon after, teammate Quinn Hughes told reporters Pearson’s recovery “wasn’t handled properly,” the comment sparking a firestorm of questions surrounding the credibility of the Canucks’ medical staff, and an internal investigation from the front office.
On Monday, Rutherford held a press conference alongside Dr. William Regan, the Canucks’ head team physician, and Dr. Harry Sese, a health and performance consultant who helped build the new medical staff brought in when Patrik Allvin took over as the club’s GM early last year.
While Dr. Regan stated he was unable to share specific details related to Pearson’s setbacks and his current status due to privacy concerns, he laid out the process by which players injuries are handled, in-house and by external specialists, and how those processes were established.
“We as physicians and training staff on all [32] NHL teams meet annually with the NHL management to discuss protocols and changes. … The Vancouver Canucks organization follows these principles. In other words, we are in direct lockstep with the NHL on how players’ injuries are managed,” Dr. Regan said. “This is how the injury to Tanner Pearson was handled. Nevertheless, no matter how excellent a patient’s care, including following best-practice guidelines, complications do arise.
“I will tell you that in this case, the surgeons involved in the care of Tanner Pearson have had many years of experience and are internationally known. On a personal note, I’d have any of the surgeons involved in his care operate on any one of my family members with no hesitation. Having said that, in Tanner’s case, there have been two setbacks stalling his recovery.”
Regan noted that Pearson’s case has also been reviewed by three outside consultants, who have in turn consulted other specialists outside of the Canucks organization, to determine the best path forward for the winger.
As for the performance of the Canucks’ medical staff as a whole, Dr. Sese spoke to reporters about the construction of that staff and the feedback he’s received on their performance.
“I know there have been some comments on our new medical staff, but to kind of settle this here, it’s not a new medical staff, completely. We have Dr. Bill and we have also kept several of our other former staff,” Dr. Sese said. “My team has a vast amount of experience [in] hockey and also various other professional sports. So there’s full confidence from myself, from Dr. Bill, management and also the players.
“I do speak to the players regularly and I ask them directly, ‘Do you have any questions, concerns? What can be done to make what we are providing you even better?’ And so far all the feedback has been great. They are fully confident in what we do and thankful for what we are giving them.”
Following his initial comments about Pearson last week, Hughes seemed to echo that sentiment, later clarifying that he hadn’t indented to blame anyone specifically for Pearson’s setbacks.
“I’m emotional just like everyone else. I wasn’t trying to direct blame at anyone. I don’t think it’s really anyone’s fault, it’s just an unfortunate situation,” Hughes said on Friday. “But in a situation like that, of course I care about my teammates and, you know, I hate to see a guy go through hell like that. … Everyone’s trying their best and, like I said, that (comment) wasn’t directed at anyone.
“It’s just the reality of the situation that it hasn’t gone well for him. I’ve always had confidence in the staff. It wasn’t about them. Just, you know, you hate seeing a guy go through something like that.”
Asked Monday about the club’s internal investigation into the situation, and the news that the NHLPA is stepping in to take a closer look as well, Rutherford said he has no issue with further questions being asked.
“I have heard [the NHLPA] are meeting today. If they decide to take a look at this, or the league, obviously we’re open to it,” he said. “If there was any wrongdoing, we want to get it right going forward. But based on our internal [investigation] here, we’re comfortable with the way things have been handled.”
