Vancouver Canucks recall Christian Wolanin from AHL, place Travis Dermott on IR

The Vancouver Canucks have recalled defenceman Christian Wolanin from the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks, the club announced Saturday morning.

In a corresponding move, the Canucks placed defenceman Travis Dermott on the injured reserve list. Dermott has been out of the Canucks’ lineup since Jan. 25.

Wolanin, 27, has been on an outstanding run in Abbotsford this season. The Quebec City product has six goals and 55 points in 49 games with the AHL Canucks this season and took part in the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic earlier this month.

The Ottawa Senators originally selected Wolanin in the fourth round (No. 107 overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft. Wolanin stuck around with the Senators for parts of four seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 2021; the Buffalo Sabres claimed him off waivers from the Kings later that year.

Last July, Wolanin signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Canucks worth $750,000 in the NHL and $350,000 in the AHL. He’ll be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent again this coming summer.

Dermott, 26, has appeared in just 11 NHL games with the Canucks this year. He missed the first few months of the season while recovering from a concussion and is now back on the injured list with an undisclosed ailment. He’s a pending RFA with a $1.75 million qualifying offer.

It remains to be seen whether Wolanin will make his NHL season debut when Vancouver returns to action on Thursday evening to play host to the Philadelphia Flyers at Rogers Arena. Opening puck-drop in that one is slated for 7:00 p.m. PT.