Granlund
The Vancouver Canucks have dealt former No. 1 draft pick Hunter Shinkaruk to the Calgary Flames in exchange for 22-year-old centre Markus Granlund.
Vancouver selected Shinkaruk with the 24th pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, but the speedy winger only appeared in one game with the big club.
The 21-year-old winger led the AHL’s Utica Comets with 21 goals and 39 points in 45 games this season, but his offensive production never resulted in an extended call up with the Canucks.
During a media conference call, Canucks general manager Jim Benning explained why the club, which has had its share of injuries this season, couldn’t fit Shinkaruk into the lineup.
Benning denied the Canucks gave up on Shinkaruk.
Had they not traded him, Benning says the team projected Shinkaruk to be playing with the Canucks next season.
In 31 games with the Flames this season, the 6-foot, 178-pound Granlund has four goals and three assists for seven points. His most production pro campaign was in 2013-14 with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat when he tallied 25 goals and 21 assists for 46 points in 52 games.
SOCIAL MEDIA REACTION
Vancouver Canucks fans, at least those who Tweet during work hours, don’t appear to happy about trading Shinkaruk. The Twitter reaction is overwhelmingly negative.
MORE TO COME
Filed under: Now, Sports, STAFF
