VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks have made their first trade in the lead-up to next Monday’s NHL trade deadline … but it’s not a player off their NHL roster heading out of the organization.
Rather, winger Hunter Shinkaruk — the leading scorer for the AHL’s Utica Comets — has been dealt to the Calgary Flames in exchange for centre Markus Granlund.
The 22-year-old Granlund has split this season between the Flames (4-3-7 in 31 games) and the AHL’s Stockton Heat, where he has five goals and four assists for nine points in 12 games. Grassland has appeared in 86 NHL games, registering 28 points (14-14-28) and 24 penalty minutes.