Canucks' trade chip Vrbata out 'for a bit' with lower-body injury

Vancouver Canucks forward Radim Vrbata will be out "for a bit" with a lower-body injury, head coach Willie Desjardins said Tuesday, adding he'll likely miss a week.

Vrbata was hurt Sunday against the Colorado Avalanche. He scored his 12th goal of the season in a 5-1 Vancouver win.

On an expiring contract, earning $5 million, Vrbata's a potential trade piece for the Canucks, as the club faces an uphill climb in order to make the playoffs. Nine of his 24 points have come on the power play, and while this season's been a disappointment, the 34-year-old winger scored 31 goals in 2014-15.