Nolan was cut for the following reason as he stated in the pre game skate
Owen Nolan was playing great, drives hard to the net, knows where to be and have the hockey sense. He still has the hands to do it all as well. Unfortunately, age has caught up with him. The Canucks do not have the luxury of finding a replacement for a player that can play one game, and then miss practice/game day skate because he has to nurse some sorta bruise or injury. Simply put it, he might be there mentally, but physically he is not up to par.
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The Canuck regulars who have yet to see any action in the pre-season each figure to play in two of Vancouver's final three exhibition games.
Nolan., the 39-year-old veteran looking to return to the NHL after spending last season in the Swiss League, returns to tonight's lineup after sitting out Saturday night's 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks with groin tightness.
Vigneault acknowledged that whether Nolan can keep his body healthy is a significant concern.
"In his case I'd have to say that right now that, you know, can the body hold up to the pace, can the body sustain it on a consistent basis," Vigneault said. "You have to be able to practise, you have to be able to play to maintain a high tempo. So that's part of our evaluation of him right now, can he maintain it and sustain it on a daily basis."
Nolan suggested too much is being made of him missing Friday's practice and Saturday's game with a sore groin.
"To me, it's not a big issue right now," Nolan said. "If you look around there are some younger guys with the same thing right now. It's always part of camp. I'm sure if you ask other teams, the biggest concern right now is the groins."
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