Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that the club has reassigned centre Brendan Gaunce to the AHL Utica Comets and have recalled right wing Alexandre Grenier.
Gaunce, 21, has appeared in 43 games for Utica this season, where he currently ranks second among Comets skaters in points (33), first in goals (15) and ranks tied for fourth in assists (18). He made his NHL debut earlier this season on October 29th at Dallas and notched his first career goal the following night at Arizona. He has now appeared in six NHL games.
A native of Markham, Ontario, Gaunce was originally selected by Vancouver in the first round, 26th overall, at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Grenier, 24, has appeared in 57 games with Utica this season, where he currently leads the team in scoring with 37 points (13-24-37) along with 41 penalty minutes. He also made his NHL debut earlier this season on November 18th at Winnipeg. In his second season with the Comets in 2014.15, the 6’4″, 211-pound forward collected a career-high in points (43) and assists (26). He finished the season ranked second on the team in goals (17) and assists, and tied for second in points. Grenier also tied for second for the team lead in scoring during the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs, registering 15 points (6-9-15) in 23 games played.
The Laval, Quebec native was originally drafted by Vancouver in the third round, 90th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
