After more than three months on the shelf, Teddy Blueger made his long-awaited return to the Vancouver Canucks’ lineup-and he didn’t just ease back in. He made an impact.
Wednesday night’s 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals wasn’t just a much-needed victory that snapped an 11-game skid for the Canucks. It also marked a successful comeback for the 31-year-old center, who hadn’t played since October 19, also against the Capitals. This time around, he was back in the mix and looked like he hadn’t missed a beat.
Logging 18:24 of ice time, Blueger brought his trademark energy and physicality. He threw four hits, put three shots on net, and helped anchor a line with Conor Garland and Liam Öhgren that turned out to be one of Vancouver’s most effective units on the night. For a player coming off such a long layoff, that’s no small feat.
And Blueger knew it. Speaking with reporters the next day, he admitted he wasn’t sure how his timing would hold up after so much time away from five-on-five action. He’d only had one full-contact practice under his belt before stepping back into game action.
“Actually pretty good. A lot better than I expected,” Blueger said of how he felt during the game.
“That’s probably the biggest thing I was worried about-not so much my injury, but just the five-on-five stuff. Timing, details, positioning, puck battles… I think it went pretty well.
I felt better than I even hoped for.”
That strong return didn’t go unnoticed in the locker room. Postgame, Blueger was handed the team’s symbolic axe-an internal honor given to the top player of the night.
Garland passed it to him, and Blueger followed tradition with a short speech to the group. It was the first time he’d received the axe, making the night even more memorable.
“It was great. Nice gesture from Garr there,” Blueger said.
“That’s a cool thing. We didn’t have that the last couple of years, so it’s nice to have something like that to pass around and recognize each other.”
Beyond the emotional lift and the win, Blueger’s return brings a tangible boost to Vancouver’s lineup. His ability to play a reliable shutdown role and kill penalties adds much-needed depth down the middle-something the Canucks have sorely missed during his absence.
And while the comeback game was a promising sign, how a player feels the next day often tells the bigger story. Blueger checked that box too, saying he felt good after practice and was already shifting his focus toward building momentum heading into the Olympic break.
“Everything feels good. No issues really,” he said.
“It’s nice to be back to it and back in the mix with the guys. Obviously, I’d been around the group for a while, but it’s a little different when you’re not playing.
It felt great-especially getting the win. Hopefully, we can use that as a springboard going forward and get things moving in a more positive direction.”
With free agency looming this summer, the timing of Blueger’s return couldn’t be better. A strong second half could not only help stabilize Vancouver’s playoff push but also set him up for a long-term deal come July 1. For now, though, the focus is on the present-and if Wednesday was any indication, Blueger’s presence could be a game-changer down the stretch.