Canucks' Hronek returning vs. Jets after 21-game absence

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek will be in the lineup Tuesday night against the Winnipeg Jets, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said, per the Winnipeg Free Press' Ken Wiebe.

Tocchet will monitor Hronek's minutes given the blue-liner's extended absence, but the bench boss is putting him back on the top pairing with reigning Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes.

Hronek last played Nov. 27 because of what the club called a lower-body injury. The Canucks went 8-6-7 without him.

The Czech defender has registered one goal and eight assists in 21 appearances this season while primarily playing with Hughes. Hronek tallied a career-high 48 points in 2023-24, his first full season in Vancouver.

The Canucks signed the 27-year-old to an eight-year, $58-million contract in June.