Brendan Gaunce

Vancouver Canucks: Brendan Gaunce Getting Long Look in Training Camp

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Vancouver Canucks prospect Brendan Gaunce finished the 2016-17 season in the NHL and does not intend to go back to Utica.

There is no doubt Brendan Gaunce‘s first 20 games with the Vancouver Canucks could have gone better. A two-way forward, Gaunce is expected to produce offensively while playing a sound defensive game. So far, we have only seen the latter.

Nevertheless, Gaunce is getting a long look at training camp and every chance to crack the roster this year. He is the only one who played in all of Vancouver’s three preseason games so far, and he is still with the team.

Playing with a team full of junior and AHL players as well as those on professional tryouts, Gaunce is one of the best forwards currently in the lineup. Yet, he only managed to score one goal, in the 5-3 win against the Edmonton Oilers, and got no assists. But that doesn’t mean he can’t crack the regular-season roster.

If Gaunce makes the team, his role will be clear: a bottom-six grinder. Not a grinder in the traditional sense (i.e. a Derek Dorsett-type player), but rather a modern one. A forward who plays with a lot of energy and grit, but has a sound two-way game and skill. In other words, a modern bottom-six player.

Luckily for him, the Canucks don’t currently have that kind of player. Better yet, current fourth-line center Markus Granlund‘s spot is anything but guaranteed.

After being traded to Vancouver last season, Granlund appeared in 16 games for the Canucks and recorded two goals and an assist. His production isn’t much better than Gaunce’s, but Gaunce appears to be a better defensive and face-off player.

With a strong training camp, Gaunce could easily steal Granlund’s spot. But that’s not the only option.

In 2016-17, Gaunce spent most of his ice time on the left wing. There, his competition for a roster spot would be Alex Burrows and Emerson Etem. Burrows is steadily declining and it might be time to move on from him. Etem has played for three different NHL clubs at just 24 years old, and there are still question marks surrounding him.

With a strong camp, Gaunce could easily surpass either of them.

The only problem: Gaunce is on a two-way contract and waiver-exempt. Vancouver could easily send him back to the AHL Utica Comets and use him as an injury call up.

Still, the fact that Gaunce has appeared in every game so far shows that he is getting every chance to crack the Vancouver Canucks out of camp.