Suter was a surprise scratch for Wednesday's game with the team not announcing his absence before warmups. Nils Aman will draw into the lineup in his place.
Suter has been out of the lineup since November 12th with a lower body and will make his return on Thursday after missing 14 games. Before his injury, Suter had four points (4G / 0A) in 15 games, averaging 15:10 time-on-ice while playing primarily with Conor Garland and Dakota Joshua.
Suter has already missed the Canucks last five games due to an undisclosed injury and was placed on the long-term injured reserve Friday. The 27-year-old signed with Vancouver in the offseason and has four goals, 23 SOG, four PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 15 games prior to his injury.
Suter had 14 goals, 10 assists, six PIMs, 106 SOG, and a -3 plus/minus in 79 games played with Detroit in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $3.2 million contract ($1,600,000 AAV). The 27-year-old undrafted Swiss center came over to the NHL in 2020-21 and has 43 goals, 87 points, and 384 SOG in 216 career games across three seasons. He should provide much needed depth up the middle for the Canucks.
Suter has five goals, six assists, 49 SOG and a -5 plus/minus through 38 games but will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season vs. Toronto. He will be replaced by Adam Erne in the lineup.
Suter was a healthy scratch on Saturday but will replace Brett Connolly in the lineup on Monday. The Blackhawks continue to rotate bodies in and out. Suter has no points in his last three games and has 23 points (13G / 10A) in 50 games this season.