Dave Tomlinson on Gaunce: “I think he has done everything he has to do, before playing in games, to show that he belongs. I would not count him out, he is a determined young man to make this hockey club. You can play him in games down the middle, see how he fares in the face-off circle, see how he is with the down-low battles, and help get the puck out of the zone. You can always move him to the wing, it’s so much easier for centremen to move to the wing. That’s where I think he will make this hockey club – as a left winger. You’d love to have guys on the wing who can jump in (to centre). With a guy like Gaunce, he will be more than comfortable to take a face-off and be good at it.”

Tony Gallagher on Gaunce (after VAN’s 5-3 win over EDM): “I thought he looked really good. He is becoming an eminent threat to either Granlund in the middle, or Emerson Etem on the wing. He looks like he is ready to make the team and make the next step. He had a lot of hits, he was extremely effective in the game, and I thought he was the most encouraging aspects of the evening. Emerson Etem is going to have to pick it up if he’s going to make the team. There are some guys looking for his job right now; they’ve got it going and he doesn’t.”

Iain MacIntyre on Gaunce: “It’s in his advantage, and certainly in the club’s advantage, that he can do another year in Utica; but, I do think that he’s going to play for the [Canucks]. This time last year, I wouldn’t have said that. He seemed to be dissipating and not really going anywhere. We knew he wasn’t going to be a top-6 guy. The question was does he have the game, does he have the disposition, the versatility to be a bottom-6 guy? He’s answered those questions pretty clearly – yes.”

Travis Green on Gaunce: “I think he’s looked good, he put in a good summer of work. He’s one of those guys that you feel comfortable playing left wing or centre. As a coach, you like having that option. There are times where you run into injuries, and you want to make a changes within your lines or even within games. When you have players that can play multiple positions, it’s a nice option. When you’re coaching and you can have a guy that you can, all of a sudden, bump up and play centre or put down on a checking line as a centreman or winger, it’s always a nice option. Centremen seem to play the wing a lot easier, and it’s harder for wingers to play centre.”

Brendan Gaunce: “Last year was a big mindset change for me. It’s not ‘I think I can do it’ anymore, it’s ‘I know I can do it.’ That was a big thing to get over and I’m ready for it. I’m a lot more confident in myself and that’s going to help. That time at the end of the season made me feel like I’m a part of the NHL now and not just watching from the outskirts. Every guy needs a chance and that’s how you break into the league. I’m trying to work for my chance and not just get one for free out of the blue. I think I’ve done that and I can help the team win in a lot of different ways. That’s how I’ve played my whole life.”

Gaunce on playing C and LW: “Whatever position I’m in, I’ll play. I like that I’m playing centre right now and I hope I can show that I can play wing as well. To have a guy that can play both is huge for a team, especially in the long run if you have injuries. I feel that I can do that comfortably and it’s not a burden on myself. I can play both positions very well and it’s good for the team to know that I can play both.”