Vancouver is done shifting around its lineup, and is ready to go for the 2017-18 season.
The Canucks announced on Tuesday that forwards Brendan Gaunce has been placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. The 23-year-old, who had five assists in 57 games last season, isn't expected to be back until early November. Cole Cassels, who has spent the last two seasons with the AHL's Utica Comets, has also been placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. His timeframe to return is unknown.
Vancouver defensive prospect Olli Juolevi will be sent to the Finnish Liiga's TPS Turku, the team also announced on Tuesday. Juolevi spent the last two seasons with the OHL’s London Knights.
Canucks received paperwork from the CHL on Olli Juolevi and he will be assigned today to TPS Turku.
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) October 3, 2017
The Canucks waived Patrick Wiercioch and Darren Archibald on Tuesday, too.
Wierioch, who spent last season with the Colorado Avalanche, is set to hit waivers on Wednesday. While his destination is currently unknown, if he doesn't land on an NHL team he may be reassigned to AHL's Belleville Senators, with whom he played from 2011-13 when the team was in Binghampton.
“Wiercioch, he had a good camp,” coach Travis Green told the Vancouver Courier. “You’ve got to make decisions. I like having lefties and righties, that definitely played into it.”
Archibald, who impressed fans and coaches during the preseason, just didn't make the cut and will be sent back to Utica, where he spent the last two-and-a-half seasons.
“Archie’s going back to Utica today,” Green told the Vancouver Courier. “He played well. There’s a reason he was here, we talked about that in the last week or so, he put himself in a position to be here.”
The Canucks will open their season on Saturday at home against the Edmonton Oilers.