February 17 2011 Last updated at 06:56 PM ET
Oberg, 22, was officially called up from Manitoba of the AHL amidst reports veteran defenseman Kevin Bieksa has been sidelined three weeks with a broken foot.
The Canucks confirmed Oberg's call-up in a news release following reports that he was pulled from the Moose lineup Wednesday night against the Toronto Marlies so that he could join the NHL team in Nashville for Thursday night's game against the Predators.
Bieksa's loss is a serious blow, because he had been enjoying a career renaissance this season. The subject of trade speculation in the summer, he earned a reprieve when Sami Salo suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the off-season. Now, while due to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, he is almost considered an untouchable.
The 30-year-old Grimsby, Ont., native has six goals and 13 assists and a plus-26 rating in 57 games with the Canucks this season. He ranks among the team leaders in minutes played while seeing duty on the power-play and penalty-killing units.However, the Canucks did not issue a formal statement on Bieksa, who was hurt while blocking a shot Tuesday night in Minnesota but continued playing. Initial reports indicated X-rays did not reveal a fracture, but he was due to be re-examined.
Bieksa becomes the fifth veteran Vancouver defenseman to be sidelined recently ? and the fourth in the last week alone. The Canucks are also missing Keith Ballard (knee), Dan Hamhuis (concussion) and Andrew Alberts (wrist).
In turn, Oberg, a second-year pro, will give the Canucks three minor-leaguers in their defense corps, along with rookies Chris Tanev and Yann Sauv�. A fourth, Lee Sweatt, is sidelined with a foot injury that rescinded his official return to Manitoba.
Oberg played two games for Vancouver last season, going without a point.
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