Canucks recall Guillaume Brisebois from Utica

The Canucks have called up 21-year-old defenseman Guillaume Brisebois from the Utica Comets.

The transaction comes with blueliners Alex Edler (concussion) and Chris Tanev (ankle) currently on IR. Erik Gudbranson was also traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the NHL Trade Deadline on Monday.

Brisbois was previously called up by the Canucks on Feb. 5 for a two-game stint against the Kings and Sharks. He was held off the scoresheet and didn’t log over 10 minutes of ice time in either contest.

Brisebois was originally selected by Vancouver 66th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. The left-handed blueliner is a excellent skater with good vision and intelligent hockey sense.

Brisebois has been a steady presence down in Utica this year, posting three goals, 10 points and a plus-3 rating through 47 contests. It’s unclear if Brisebois will slot into the lineup over fellow blueliners Derrick Pouliot, Alex Biega, Luke Schenn or Ashton Sautner, but it’s good to see the Canucks giving him the callup.

Ben Hutton and Troy Stecher have stepped up this season, but the defense is certainly lacking in the bottom-four. Edler is expected to return soon, but Tanev’s injury could be long-term. Prospect Quinn Hughes in expected to arrive from Michigan and join the team in the near-future.

The Canucks had 22 players on their roster following the conclusion of the trade deadline Monday, while the Brisebois recall officially puts them at 23 on Tuesday.