Centre Marc Chouinard, one of the Vancouver Canucks free-agent signings in the off-season, will miss seven to 10 days with a sprained right shoulder.
Chouinard suffered the injury in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver's final game of the NHL exhibition season. The Canucks open the regular season Thursday in Detroit, then play Friday in Columbus, Sunday in Colorado and Tuesday in Minnesota.
``We played eight (exhibition) games and I got through most of them with no problem,'' Chouinard said at the Canucks practice facility Monday. ``All of a sudden now, you have the big test of a new beginning, and it's frustrating not to be part of the team on the first road trip.''
The injury happened in the first period in a collision with Edmonton's Raffi Torres.
``I got a weird check down in the corner,'' said Chouinard. ``I felt a little squeeze there. It was assessed after the game.''
Chouinard had one assist in six exhibition games.
A native of Charlesbourg, Que., he had 11 goals and 21 points in 45 games with the Minnesota Wild last season.
Chouinard had surgery on his left shoulder in April.
