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Alex Grenier Re-Signs & Other Prospect Tidbits
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Josh W
By Josh W
Jul 11, 2015, 12:00 EDTUpdated:
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Image Courtesy: UticaComets.com
A number of recent minor moves have been made on the prospect side of the Canucks franchise. While nothing major has happened it is worth noting these transactions as the Utica Comets prepare for their next season.  The biggest news of the day was the re-signing of Alexandre Grenier, one of the most improved players down in Utica, who looks like he might make the Vancouver Canucks this upcoming season.
Continue past the jump to learn some of smaller moves that have occurred.
  • A few days ago the Canucks had tweeted out that Alex Grenier was re-signed and then quickly deleted that tweet.  Yesterday, the Canucks officially announced the re-signing of Grenier to a 1 year deal with the Canucks.  While the terms of the contract are still officially unknown it is speculated that Grenier has received a 2-way contract at $715,000 in the NHL and $74,250 in the AHL.  Similar to Corrado and Clendening, this is based on a 10% raise from his qualifying offer which News 1130 Sports had reported Grenier had not accepted.
  • Sven Bärtschi is still in negotiations for his contract with the Canucks.  It sounds like Sven and his agent are fighting for one way deal.  Ronalds Kenins was re-signed to near league minimum on a one-way deal this year, while Corrado, Clendening and Grenier are on two-way deals.
  • Based on the number of professional games played at the NHL and AHL levels it appears that all of Frank Corrado, Adam Clendening, Ronalds Kenins, Sven Bärtschi and Alex Grenier are no longer waiver exempt.  While Jim Benning has been suggesting that he wants to see all of these young players make the Canucks, with the log jam at the NHL level, if they do not make it and are sent back to Utica they will have to pass waivers to get there. 
  • An interesting piece of information that has emerged this week is that Cole Cassels is injured.  Cassels suffered an abdominal injury during the United States selection camp for the World Juniors in December and continued playing through it until the Memorial Cup was over.  He has not skated since then and did not participate in on-ice activities this past week.  Ab injuries can be tricky, so hopefully he is able to fully recover from this in short order. 
  • Curtis Valk is another player who is seemingly still injured.  Valk hurt his knee while playing for Kalamazoo, which ended his season.  It appears he was not on the ice for the 3-on-3 prospect tournament this week, nor participating in the Grouse Grind (similar to Thatcher Demko).  Shout out to @Sarah_Hobday for spotting it.
  • Dane Fox is spending his off-season working on his skating and will attend the main Canucks camp this September.  Fox is aiming for an NHL position but hopes to at least be in Utica for the year.
  • The Canucks have announced some of the names in their Young Stars Tournament roster.  Essentially all of the Canucks non-NCAA healthy prospects will be attending.  I assume invited players will slowly trickle in over the next two months.  Also, your Canucks Army writers will/may/should be attending this tournament to cover it from Penticton.
  • Down in Utica, there have been some transactions.  Carter Bancks was re-signed by the Utica Comets to an AHL SPC.  He came in last year as an ex-Medicine Hat boy and did a good job working with Brendan Gaunce down on the 4th line.
  • After two seasons, Brandon DeFazio is leaving the Comets to join the Bruins organization on a two-way contract.  The Comets will likely see him a lot as Providence (the Bruins affiliate) is in the Eastern Conference of the AHL.  DeFazio now has over 260 professional games played and is considered a veteran and the AHL has rules on how many veterans they can keep in their gameday lineup.
  • Mike Zalewski was signed to an AHL SPC as well this week.  Zalewski was signed as a UFA out of the NCAA and managed to play a few games in the NHL two seasons ago.  Last season, Zalewski mainly played a bottom-6 role in the AHL and it was no surprise to see the Canucks not re-sign him especially as they only have 3 contract spots left.  Zalewski is a local boy to Utica so it was not a surprise either to see the Comets keep him around.
  • As of right now here is what the Utica Comet’s depth chart looks like:

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