Shoulder Injury Sidelines Volpatti for Season (with Video)
Aaron Volpatti's first goal of the season was also his last.
Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said Saturday the Canucks fourth-line left-winger will miss the rest of the campaign due to a shoulder injury that will require surgery within the next week.
“Patti has been having some shoulder issues,” Vigneault said. “He had an MRI done (Friday) and, unfortunately, it showed a labrum tear.”
Volpatti scored in Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Nashville Predators, his first goal in almost a year.
The last one came Dec., 20, 2010, in St. Louis during a rookie season split between the NHL and the minors. The 26-year-old from Revelstoke, B.C., signed with the Canucks as a free agent out of Brown in March 2010 and secured full-time NHL employment this season after a strong prospects camp, training camp and pre-season.
Volpatti dressed for all but two games, when he was a healthy scratch, and provided stability to a fourth line that underwent constant change last season.
“He was a real disappointed young man (Saturday) morning. He was finding his rhythm in this league and on our team,” Vigneault said. “(He) was well appreciated in his role by his teammates and his coaches. But, unfortunately, it isn't something that you can control.”
