Concerns for Manny Malhotra’s safety on the ice during the course of an NHL game prompted Canucks GM Mike Gillis to shut the player down for the season.

Gillis met with reporters on Thursday afternoon, after the NHL club announced that Malhotra, who’s struggled to deal with a serious eye injury suffered in March 2011, has been placed on the Injured Reserve list for the remainder of the season. His playing career with the Canucks is clearly finished, although it’s uncertain whether Malhotra will retire. He is on the final year of a three-year deal that pays him $2.5 million annually, which he will be paid as an injured player.

Malhotra, 32, was struck in the eye by a deflected puck during a game nearly two years ago and the reduced vision in his eye clearly prevented him from regaining his previous form last season and nine games in to this one.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve done in this job,” said Gillis. “It was a situation that changed Manny’s life in half a second on an innocent play. Watching what he did to try and recover from that, it was a difficult decision for me to make. It was one that has been thought about for a long time. We came to the conclusion that for his long-term health it was the best thing we could do.”

Gillis said he was concerned that Malhotra was putting himself in a vulnerable position where he could be seriously injured.

“In today’s game where players are so big and so fast, even an innocent collision could be really damaging if you’re unaware. I wasn’t prepared to live with that any longer.”

Although Gill chose to make the decision 10 games into the season, he said he made up his mind about it after last season.”

“I came to this decision last year,” he said. “I wanted to give him the opportunity to get better. He felt the year before, because of the procedures he had in the summer (on his eye), he didn’t have a chance to train. He felt a better opportunity to get in great shape would help him. We wanted to give him 10 games to watch and see if there was any discernable change and felt there wasn’t and felt there were certain instances where he was extremely vulnerable.”

Gillis said Malhotra will stay with the team in some capacity.

“He had a great impact,” said Gillis. “He was brought here for a lot of reasons. -- his play on the ice but also his character and leadership. He did all those things, and he’ll continue to do them. He’ll continue to be part of the organization and his personality, his courage, his leadership doesn’t change because he’s not going to be playing hockey.”

Gillis said he couldn’t say whether Malhotra will retire.

“Manny is an extremely proud guy who’s very stubborn, that’s why he was able to come back (from the injury),” said Gillis. “There were points where I thought he shared my opinion and points where I thought he didn’t, but I had to make the decision.”

Malhotra didn't speak with the media on Thursday.

Signed as a free agent in the summer of 2010, Malhotra was a big part of the Canucks’ first Presidents’ Trophy winning team that went to the seventh game of the Stanley Cup final. He brought superb penalty killing abilities and was (and still is) one of the top face-off men in the league. Malhotra’s defensive play was so good that he was in the conversation for the Selke Trophy and freed up Ryan Kesler (who won the Selke that year) to focus more on the offensive side – resulting in a 41-goal season.

He was able to come back in the Stanley Cup final, but not surprisingly struggled. He had several procedures on his injured eye the following summer, which cost him training time and he never caught up the following season.

Malhotra has continued to excel in the face-off circle this season, but had no points, just two shots on goal and was a team-worst minus-3. With Malhotra going to the IR, it opens up a spot for rookie Jordan Schroeder to stay with the team after the expected return of Ryan Kesler on Friday night against Dallas at Rogers Arena.

Malhotra’s coach and teammates were glowing in their praise.

“Ever since the day Manny’s joined this organization, he’s been a huge part of our group,” said Canucks coach Alain Vigneault. “It’s not just what he does on the ice but what he does off the ice in the way he conducts himself with this teammates, the community and the fans. He’s such a strong individual in all categories. I know it’s a real emotional time with Manny and we’re going to find ways to have him contribute and hopefully it’ll be an easy adjustment for him.”

Fourth line winger Dale Weise probably played more with Malhotra the last two seasons than any other player on the roster.

“He’s just an unbelievable person and teammate,” said Weise. “I played a lot with him the last two years. I got a chance to learn a lot from him. On and off the ice he can teach you so many things. He does so many things inside the room that he’s such a valuable asset to our team.”

Added Kevin Bieksa: “It is (disappointing), but we fully support Manny in his decision. It’s a very personal decision and I’m sure on that didn’t come easy to him. I’m sure it took at lot of hard thoughts and questions and input from some loved ones, but he’s always going to be a part of this team. He’s always going to be welcome in this room. He’s got great character, a quality individual, it’s a pleasure having him around.”