There have been days this season when walking into the office was a bit like walking into a minefield for Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.

The Canucks have experienced a string of unexpected absences early in the campaign 香蕉视频直播� and Tocchet has been greeted with bad news more than once.

香蕉视频直播淪ometimes you walk in the morning and it香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播楬ey, this guy can香蕉视频直播檛 play, this is happening,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� the coach said Wednesday.

香蕉视频直播淚 can香蕉视频直播檛 go in there and start like, 香蕉视频直播極h my god, what am I to do?香蕉视频直播� The players need to see that I香蕉视频直播檝e got a next-man-up mentality. That香蕉视频直播檚 really what it comes up to. And then you deal with the other situations as they come.香蕉视频直播�

Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 all-star goalie Thatcher Demko missed the first two months of the season recovering from a knee injury. Winger Dakota Joshua didn香蕉视频直播檛 get into the lineup until mid-November as he worked his way back from treatment following an off-season cancer diagnosis.

Sniper Brock Boeser was sidelined for nearly three weeks and missed seven games with a concussion in November. Star centre J.T. Miller is still on an indefinite leave for personal reasons.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of stuff that香蕉视频直播檚 hit us, with injuries and Demmer out 香蕉视频直播� you go down the list,香蕉视频直播� Tocchet said. 香蕉视频直播淪ometimes it香蕉视频直播檚 a good thing. Builds scar tissue, it builds character, and it builds fight in your team.香蕉视频直播�

Vancouver got a key piece back Tuesday night when Demko made his first start of the season in the Canucks香蕉视频直播� 4-3 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Other players appear poised for a return soon, too, including Derek Forbort, who could be back in the lineup Thursday when Vancouver hosts the Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers.

The 32-year-old defenceman has played just four games since signing with the Canucks as a free agent July 1.

He stepped away from the team in mid-October to deal with the death of his father, then returned for a road match against the San Jose Sharks in California on Nov. 2. He was hurt in the next practice and hasn香蕉视频直播檛 suited up for a game since.

香蕉视频直播淚t sucked. It was just kind of a freak kind of collision kind of thing on a pretty harmless kind of drill,香蕉视频直播� Forbort said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut that stuff happens in hockey. And you香蕉视频直播檝e just got to keep grinding.香蕉视频直播�

Despite the absences, the Canucks remain above the playoff bar with a 14-8-5 record. The club has points in five of its last six outings.

The team香蕉视频直播檚 tight-knit nature has helped, Forbort said.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just a close group in here. We香蕉视频直播檝e had so many call-ups and those kids come up and they香蕉视频直播檝e kind of integrated themselves into the culture pretty well and they played good hockey. And it香蕉视频直播檚 been fun to see them,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淗opefully we can kind of get all those pieces back and get everyone accustomed to each other again. And really get rolling.香蕉视频直播�

The Canucks may have another vital piece coming soon as Miller nears his return. The 31-year-old forward took morning skate Tuesday and practised with his teammates on Wednesday.

Miller had a career-high 103 points last season and put up six goals and 10 assists in 17 games before taking a leave from the team last month. His last game was Nov. 17.

Getting him back will mean a lot to the Canucks, said winger Conor Garland.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 a big presence. And I think he香蕉视频直播檚 a big presence on and off the ice. Obviously, he香蕉视频直播檚 one of the best players in the league,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淪o we香蕉视频直播檙e lucky to have him. And any time a guy like him 香蕉视频直播� Demmer, guys like that, miss time, it hurts. But just to get him back in the fold, that香蕉视频直播檒l be good for us.香蕉视频直播�

While a healthier roster gives Tocchet fresh options out on the ice, he香蕉视频直播檚 found that patching holes has brought lessons, too.

This season香蕉视频直播檚 difficulties have taught the coach 香蕉视频直播� winner of last season香蕉视频直播檚 Jack Adams Award as the NHL香蕉视频直播檚 top bench boss 香蕉视频直播� to step back and try to look at situations differently. He香蕉视频直播檚 also trying to prioritize relationships and communication to help both his team and individual players weather the adversity.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 important that it香蕉视频直播檚 not always about x and o香蕉视频直播檚 and hockey and where you fit on the team,香蕉视频直播� Tocchet said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really about life sometimes.香蕉视频直播�