VANCOUVER, B.C. -- The challenges continue for the Vancouver Canucks defense corps.It was learned Monday that top rearguard Alex Edler will need surgery to repair a broken finger and be out for the next month. Edlers injury means that Vancouver will be without him and fellow veteran Chris Tanev for an extended period, starting Tuesday as the Canucks (9-11-2) host the Minnesota Wild (11-7-3) at Rogers Arena.Its tough, Vancouver defenseman Philip Larsen told reporters after practice Monday. Thats our first (defense) pairing. A lot of (defensemen) have to step up and do as good as we can.The absences of Edler and Tanev, who has been sidelined in recent weeks and shows no signs of returning soon, pose more challenges for a Vancouver defense crew that is trending younger this season. Since the start of the campaign, injuries, other health woes and inconsistency have forced coach Willie Desjardins to adjust his pairings and give more playing time to some defensemen than he would like.Edler, 30, who usually records the most minutes per game among defensemen, if not the whole team, was injured on Saturday night while blocking a shot in the first period of a 3-2 shootout victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver. With Edler and Tanev now both out, Larsen, a 26-year-old offensive defenseman from Esbjerg, Denmark, who is in his first season with the Canucks, has a chance to play a more active role.But it remains to be seen how much action Larsen will see. He resumed practicing with the team Monday after being sidelined with a virus.Its been a tough couple weeks, said Larsen, a right-side rearguard. Its nice to be back. It was a tough practice and it was kind of nice to get it going.At the outset of the season, Larsen was seen as a positive addition to Vancouvers power play, but it has been terrible most of the season -- and he has rarely been on it. He has lacked consistency after returning to the National Hockey League following two seasons in Europes Kontinental Hockey League. Before getting sick, he struggled to stay in the lineup.It was tough, he said. I got out of the lineup and I wanted to get back in as quick as possible. Then when I got sick on top of that, it was pretty frustrating.With Edler out for an extended period, rookie Troy Stecher, 22, will almost assuredly play a more prominent role. Stecher, a native of the Vancouver suburb of Richmond, B.C., began the season with Utica of the American Hockey League -- and is on his second call-up -- but has quickly emerged as one of the Canucks top blueliners.A right-handed shot, Stecher has played on both the right and left sides while taking a regular shift and pulling duty on both specialty teams. If Larsen can return soon Stecher may soon see more action on the left side, which is Edlers usual spot. The rookie stood out in Denver after Edlers injury limited the Canucks to five defensemen, leading the Canucks with five shots.Stecher is determined to make a difference in spite of his neophyte status.I think you have to have that mindset, Stecher, an undrafted free agent signing out of the University of North Dakota, told The Vancouver Sun. I think if you go into (the NHL) and kind of dip your toe in the water, thats when youre going to get exposed. You might as well just do a cannonball and throw everything you have into it.The Canucks are hoping to go on a cannonball run of sorts after finishing their worst first quarter of a season since 1997. They won two of three games on their recent road trip and are looking to keep the good times rolling against the Wild.Meanwhile, Wild coach Bruce Boudreau would also like his team to get on a winning streak. The Wild enter Tuesdays contest on the heels of a 4-3 shootout loss in St. Louis. The Wild squandered a 2-1 lead in the third period, rallied to force overtime, but still lost.However, Minnesota, which will play its second contest on a five-game road trip Tuesday, has still fared well lately. The Wild went 2-0-2 in four games last week, earning six of a possible eight points.I think were playing good hockey, Boudreau told reporters. Its just not winning eight in a row. I would like to be able to put something together. Theo Pinson Jersey . 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A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bills running back LeSean McCoy said he is inviting 15-20 Buffalo police officers to an upcoming game at a time when the 49ers visit Buffalo next and quarterback Colin Kaepernick is protesting police and the treatment of African-Americans and minorities.McCoy said the gesture was not a direct response to Kaepernicks kneeling protests during the national anthem, and that he has no problem with his protests. Kaepernick is set to start for the first time this year on Sunday against the Bills. McCoy said it has yet to be determined if the police officers will attend this weekends game or Buffalos following home game on Oct. 30 against New England.Just an appreciation type of thing, McCoy said. Cause theyre taking so much heat right now. Theres things that are happening thats definitely wrong but I just feel like theres bad people, theres bad cops and theres good cops.McCoy revealed the invitation when asked about the attention surrounding Kaepernick and his protests.Nobodys perfect and a lot of cops are getting a bad rap for something that bad cops are doing and theyre still good cops, McCoy said.McCoys gesture comes after he was involved in a fight with off-duty police officers at a Philadelphia nightclub in February. No charges were issued.You guys know about the cops, the situation I had, McCoy said. For me to say that, thats genuine.The plans to invite the police officers to a Bills home game had been in the works through McCoys foundation.I reached out to them, McCoy said. Like I said, it has nothing to do with Kap or the situation. I think that he might be doing the right thing because everybodys opinion, theres never a wrong opinion. I think hes right for what hes saying we need to do something about whats going on because it is wrong. Then again, theres good peoplee and theres bad people.dddddddddddd Theres good cops and bad cops. So Im just trying to show appreciation.McCoy is set to go up against his former coach in Philadelphia, Chip Kelly, for the second time since being traded from the Eagles to the Bills. McCoy caused a stir last year prior to Buffalos game against Philadelphia by saying Kelly couldnt shake his hand but now says thats water under the bridge.For sure, thats way behind me, McCoy said. I never really had a real issue. Some things we didnt see eye to eye. Thats tons of players and coaches.McCoy said he doesnt have a problem with Kelly.Im sure theres people you work with that you dont care to shake their hand and have a whole lot of conversations about your children and all that, different activities, he said.Kelly said his feelings about the situation havent changed.I enjoyed coaching LeSean in the two years that we had him in Philadelphia. He was extremely productive when he was there, he said. So I dont have any expectations of whats going to go on at the game.The Bills were without nine players at practice on Wednesday: DT Marcell Dareus (hamstring), LT Cordy Glenn (ankle), LB Zach Brown (foot), LB Lorenzo Alexander (rest), TE Charles Clay (knee), OT Cyrus Kouandjio (ankle), LB Brandon Spikes (illness), RB Mike Gillislee (illness) and CB Corey White (shoulder). The foot injury for Brown, who is tied for the league lead in tackles, is not serious according to Bills coach Rex Ryan. DT Corbin Bryant (ankle), P Colton Schmidt (right quadriceps), S Aaron Williams (foot), WR Marquise Goodwin (illness) and C Patrick Lewis (knee) were limited.---AP NFL website: http://pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '