Canucks' Jacob Markström granted leave of absence to tend to family matter
Jacob Markström will miss the Canucks’ clash with the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday, as well as Friday’s contest against the Blues in St. Louis, the Canucks announced Monday afternoon.
The 29-year-old netminder has been granted a leave of absence to tend to a family matter. He is expected to rejoin the team during their road trip this weekend. The Canucks face off against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
The reason for Markström’s leave is unknown and the team will not comment any further on the subject.
A second-round selection of the Florida Panthers in the 2008 NHL draft, Markström has been Vancouver’s starting goaltender for the last two seasons. He played 60 games the past two years and has been between the pipes for each of the team’s first four games of the 2019-20 campaign.
He’s currently 2-2-0 with a 2.23 GAA and .926 SV%.
In a corresponding move, goaltender Zane McIntyre has been recalled from the Utica Comets. He’ll back up Thatcher Demko’s first start on the season on Wednesday.
McIntyre is 2-0-0 with a 2.92 GAA and .903 SV% so far this season while playing for Vancouver’s AHL affiliate. He appeared in eight games for the Boston Bruins during the 2016-17 campaign, but has yet to earn a victory in the NHL.
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