The Vancouver Canucks have brought in a reinforcement for their final game this Saturday against the lowly Edmonton Oilers. 

Zalewski, 23, will be making his second appearance on the Canucks roster this season, last joining the club after a January 20th recall. A recall which was preceded by Zalewski signing an NHL contract just a day prior, on January 19th. 

The Canucks prospect is enjoying a relatively successful season with the Utica Comets, jumping up and down the lineup when necessary. The Canucks recalling Brendan Gaunce opened up an expanded role for Zalewski, who played on the Comets first line regularly. The acquisition of T.J. Hensick bumped Zalewski down a spot, but he remains a key cog in the Comets lineup. 

The relatively young centre is enjoying a successful season offensively, contributing 30 points in 55 games to the Comets cause. It’s too soon to write Zalewski’s NHL prospects off entirely, but as he approaches his mid-20’s, the likelihood that he will develop into anything resembling a full-time NHL’er is increasing daily. Using an opportunity like the one the Canucks have afforded him Saturday could go a long way in getting another look next season and beyond.

The Canucks organization made another minor transaction today as well. The Utica Comets have recalled Curtis Valk from the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL.