Per the Athletic, Ferland is "unfit to play" (not known if this is a recurrence of his concussion symptoms, which I believe it is, or the latest NHL/Canucks euphemisim for secondary exposure to someone with COVID-19; I had heard he drove over from Manitoba to join the team), Boeser is still with the team, and J. Rathbone still hasn't signed (bit of a concern there, and count me among those who can't wait to see this kid suit up) - Harvard isn't going to play any sports until at least January, and he seems intent on staying close to family.
Quote:
"Rathbone is in a unique situation, particularly considering the uncertainty he’s facing with Harvard’s season in doubt.
By all accounts, Rathbone is a smart kid — you have to be to go to Harvard — and he’s facing a crucial life decision with an unprecedented set of circumstances in front of him. It’s reasonable for him to want and take his time.
The Canucks aren’t exactly pressing, at the moment. They know how to do this, and sometimes a person needs space to make a big life decision. Anyway, the Canucks have made their pitch, sold Rathbone as best they could and have made a strong offer. They’re really playing the waiting game now."
I'd imagine the calculus he's doing is, Harvard won't resume play until January at the earliest; the Canucks won't need him unless there's a raft of injuries on the blueline and even then, he'd be behind Rafferty, perhaps Juolevi, et al; there's no AHL to be sent down to... What's the point? Where's the benefit to signing now, besides burning his first year on the ELC?
Quote:
On Day 1, from a media perspective, anyway, it was maybe a bit cumbersome and a bit unnerving. And yet, watching Elias Pettersson stay out late to absolutely tune pucks, pinging wrist shots loudly and dangerously off the posts, or watching Quinn Hughes flummox Tyler Myers while shimmying down the half-wall before hitting Chris Tanev with a perfect tape-to-tape cross-seam pass, or watching Brock Boeser destroy teammates in three-on-three puck battle drills down low, it was hard not to feel a bit grateful for the return of hockey.
Amen to that.