The Vancouver Canucks made roster moves on Thursday morning, assigning forward Arshdeep Bains and defenceman Erik Brännström to their American Hockey League affiliate, Abbotsford Canucks.
Brännström was acquired by the Canucks before the start of the season in a trade that sent Tucker Poolman and his $2.5 million on long-term injured reserve, along with a fourth-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche. The Swedish defenceman signed in Colorado earlier this offseason after spending the previous six seasons with the Ottawa Senators, scoring seven goals and 62 assists for 69 points in 266 games.
The former first-round pick earned a call-up after impressing through the opening two days in Abbotsford, posting three assists in two games. Derek Forbort had to take a step away from the team to deal with a personal matter, opening up the lineup spot for Brännström to get his feet wet with the Canucks.
He joined the club for the final three games of the road trip, where he continued to get stronger as the games went on. And in the latest game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Brännström was rewarded with a primary assist on the Canucks’ sixth goal of the game, which was his first point as a Vancouver Canuck.
Given his strong play over the past three games and Tocchet’s praise of him after last game, it would be surprising if the club did not recall Brännström. David Quadrelli highlights that this may be a paper transaction in order for the club to accrue cap space, given the lengthy break until the Canucks’ next game.
Bains was also sent down in this transaction. He suited up in three games during the road trip and got to play alongside JT Miller and Brock Boeser for two of the games. During that stretch, Bains failed to register a point, finishing with one shot on goal and a minus-one rating. He was initially awarded his first NHL point as a secondary assist on Suter’s goal; however, that was later awarded to Nils Åman.
If Bains is not recalled ahead of the club’s next match against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he will return to Abbotsford, where he finished with 16 goals and 55 points in 59 games last season.
The Abbotsford Canucks have their home opener on Friday night as they take on the San Diego Gulls.