Brock Boeser responds to being 'scratched' on Hockey Fights Cancer night.

On Saturday the Vancouver Canucks announced a highly controversial decision when they revealed that Canucks forward Brock Boeser would be made a healthy scratch. Not only was it set to be the first healthy scratch for Boeser since his first full season in the National Hockey League, but it came on Hockey Fights Cancer night in Vancouver, an extremely special night for Boeser and the Boeser family who have recently had to deal with the passing of the families' patriarch, Duke Boeser.

In the end the Canucks would be spared from making a horrible mistake due to sheer coincidence when it was revealed that Canucks forward Dakota Joshua had been sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Following the game Boeser was asked about the decision from the team, notably head coach Bruce Boudreau, and he admitted that he had been hurt by it.

“It was a very important game for me and my family, so when I came in this morning and my name wasn’t on the white board it hurt - it hurt bad,” admitted Boeser.

Initially Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau suggested that the decision to bench Boeser was just some "tough love," but it genuinely sounds like Boudreau was unaware of the importance tonight's game would have had for Boeser and his family. While some might express some doubts in that regard, it genuinely doesn't seem like something Boudreau would have done out of malice, if the amiable head coach is even capable of such a thing.

That will likely do little to appease the hurt feelings from Boeser though, and with rumors of a potential trade swirling around the Canucks forward already this seems to just add to the writing on the wall. Boeser was asked about the rumors of a potential trade following the game, but he was too emotional after what was a huge game for him to comment on the situation.

“I’ve already had a lot of emotions to deal with today, that’s the last thing on my mind," said Boeser in response to questions about a possible trade.