Canucks assign F Jacob Quillan to AHL Abbotsford

After a strong first showing with the Vancouver Canucks, Jacob Quillan will get some more time to develop in the minors, as the team announced Saturday night that the centre has been assigned to the Abbotsford Canucks.

The Canucks open up a roster spot with this transaction. A pair of players were placed on waivers on Friday: New York Islanders forward Kyle MacLean and Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Mike Rielly. This move could indicate the Canucks plan to claim one of them.

Quillan played well in his brief NHL stint, with one assist in three games. He also logged his first and second NHL fights, both in the same game against the Anaheim Ducks. The first was with fellow rookie Roger McQueen, who responded and stuck up for his teammate after Quillan levelled Ducks defenceman Pavel Mintyukov along the end boards. The second came later against Travis Mitchell, who went after Quillan after he made contact with Laurent Broissoit’s skate.

The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia native was acquired by the Canucks in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs almost a month ago, sending him and Brandon Buhr to Vancouver in exchange for Aatu Räty. He’s currently signed to a one-year, $850,000 contract and will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

In five AHL games with the Abbotsford Canucks, Quillan has five goals and two assists for seven points. He is not in the lineup tonight against the Ontario Reign. Akil Thomas makes his Abbotsford Canucks debut tonight against his former team, the Ontario Reign.