Canucks' Sutter out 'a while' due to long-term COVID symptoms

Vancouver Canucks forward Brandon Sutter is sidelined for the foreseeable future as he deals with the effects of long-term COVID-19 symptoms, general manager Jim Benning announced Monday.

"He's experiencing some of the symptoms from COVID," Benning said. "I guess they call it being a long-hauler. He still has some issues that he's working through with that.

"He's going to be out for a while. He's not going to be back anytime soon."

The Canucks had a major COVID-19 outbreak derail their 2020-21 season. Vancouver had to postpone several of its contests, and Sutter was one of 21 players to test positive.

The 32-year-old has been with the Canucks for the past six campaigns, registering 12 points in 43 games last season. Sutter signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract to stick with Vancouver this past summer.