The Vancouver Canucks promised a recall from the AHL earlier today, and finally announced it would be Michael Chaput on his way up to join the NHL squad. Chaput is well known to Canucks fans after spending 68 games with the team last season. The Canucks are without Loui Eriksson for at least the first part of their current road trip after he suffered a knee injury this weekend and isn’t travelling with the team. They will have to complete a corresponding move, which will likely be placing Alexander Edler on injured reserve as he deals with an MCL sprain.
Vancouver will start a five-game road trip tomorrow against the Ottawa Senators, and are already stretched fairly thin at forward. Brandon Sutter missed today’s practice with an illness, and Brendan Gaunce is still on the IR with a shoulder injury. The team decided to go with Chaput instead of younger options like Nikolay Goldobin and Reid Boucher, likely because of the uncertain minutes available.
Chaput is not waivers-exempt, meaning he’ll have to clear to be sent back down. Boucher has the same problem but is likely more valuable to the Canucks, while Goldobin needs all the development time he can get as he looks to fulfill his impressive potential. The 25-year old Chaput has plenty of experience playing limited minutes in a bottom-six role, and could be moved in and out of the lineup throughout the trip.