Rick Tocchet updates on Elias Lindholm: Slowly improving

Elias Lindholm has been sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Lindholm's last game goes back to when the Canucks hosted the Flames, and the Swede hasn't played or practiced with his teammates since.

The Canucks massive move has yet to pay off, and the fact that he's currently on the sidelines isn't helping. Players have been known to elevate their game when new contracts are on the line, but thus far, it hasn't been the case for the Swede.

Rick Tocchet did announce a development earlier. He was missing from practice; the team's coach did confirm, however, that he had been skating solo:





With 9 points through 22 games with the Canucks, the hope is that he's been slowed down by this mysterious injury, and he'll play up to the expectations once he's back.

Once he's back at 100 percent, Tocchet will be left with an interesting problem. Where does he fit in the Canucks' scheme? Does he reunite the Lotto and Good Job Boys lines and place Lindholm with Hoglander and Lafferty? Does he put Lindholm on Hoglander and Pettersson's wing?

This will be an exciting depth puzzle for Tocchet and his staff.