Report: Canucks waive Brendan Leipsic

The Canucks have placed forward Brendan Leipsic this morning:

If Leipsic clears, it’s fair to assume that he will be assigned to the Utica Comets. Leipsic had two goals and three assists in seventeen games with the Canucks this season after being acquired at the trading deadline last season from the Vegas Golden Knights. This move is likely the precursor to Jay Beagle returning to the Canucks lineup in the coming days.

It also means that the Canucks appear to be giving Adam Gaudette a little more time in the NHL, as he would’ve been the easy assignment to the AHL, given that he was waiver exempt. If I had to guess, the team will move Markus Granlund over to the wing, keep Gaudette in the middle, and then insert Beagle into the other centre spot.

It is unfortunate that the Canucks have opted to waive Leipsic as he is a victim of low on-ice-shooting percentage and on-ice-save percentage, which has resulted in a PDO of 93.52 (according to Corsica) and is last on the team based on that metric. This isn’t to say that Leipsic doesn’t deserve to be on the chopping block, and the error on the game-winning goal on Thursday didn’t help, but with a little more luck, maybe he doesn’t appear to be struggling so much.

Aside from Gaudette being sent down, many people are suggesting that Tim Schaller should’ve been the one to hit the waiver wire this morning. But that is a debate for another day.

Now the organization hopes that Leipsic will clear waivers and he can become a call-up option when injuries pile up again.