After the Vancouver Canucks placed Erik Brännström on waivers on Sunday morning, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman announced that the defenceman has cleared waivers and will report to AHL Abbotsford.

Brännström has missed the previous six games as he’s been sitting in the press box as a healthy scratch for the Canucks. He last appeared in a game against the Calgary Flames on December 31st. In that game, Brännström registered an assist with a minus-one rating with five penalty minutes and one shot on goal in 17:40 minutes of average ice time.

On the season, Brännström played 28 games for the Canucks, scoring three goals and five assists for eight points with 17 penalty minutes, 33 shots on goal, 14 hits, and 39 blocks in 14:56 minutes of average ice time with a minus-four rating.

This will be his second stint down with the Abbotsford Canucks, as he was quickly called up after two games, where he registered three assists, seven shots on goal, and two penalty minutes with a plus-three rating.

The Canucks acquired Brännström in a deal with the Colorado Avalanche on October 6th, in a trade that sent Tucker Poolman – and his $2.5 million long-term injured reserve cap hit – and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

The 25-year-old defenceman has jumped around the league. Originally drafted 15th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL entry draft, Brännström was a part of the package sent to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Mark Stone.

He would spend the following six seasons in Ottawa, playing 266 games, scoring seven goals and 62 assists for 69 points with a minus-13 rating. Brännström then signed a one-year $900k contract with the Colorado Avalanche this past offseason before being traded to the Canucks.

Earlier on Monday morning, the Canucks announced that defenceman Filip Hronek rejoined the team in Winnipeg ahead of their game against the Jets on Tuesday.

Brännström will next have the opportunity to play with Abbotsford on Tuesday as the Canucks take on the Ontario Reign.