Hamonic missed training camp and the preseason for personal reasons. He was placed on waivers Sunday in order to send him to the AHL and create room on the roster ahead of a season-opening six-game road trip that starts Wednesday at the Edmonton Oilers.
"It just buys us more time, we save money on the NHL salary
will start the season on injured reserve because of lingering effects from having COVID-19 last season. Sutter was one of 22 players and four staff members from the Canucks who tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing an 18-day pause through April 18.
Sutter signed a one-year contract July 28 for $1.125 million after scoring 12 points (9-3-12) in 43 games last season. He wasn't at training camp because of fatigue.
"He's experiencing some of the symptoms from the COVID; I guess they call it being a long hauler," Benning said. "He's going to be out for a while. He's not going to be back anytime soon, so once he feels 100 percent better, then we'll get him back up skating and get him in shape and then he'll start playing. There's no timeline."
