The Blue Jackets have acquired center Brendan Gaunce from the Wild in exchange for right-winger Cameron Butler, the team announced Thursday.
Gaunce, 31, begins his second stint in Columbus after spending one season in Minnesota. The Wild signed him to a two-year, two-way deal on the opening day of free agency last year after spending three seasons in the Blue Jackets organization, primarily with AHL Cleveland. He only made 12 NHL appearances, posting one point and a minus-four rating while averaging 9:42 of ice time per game.
He spent the bulk of the season down with AHL Iowa when he wasn’t in the Twin Cities as an injury call-up. There, he posted a 15-14–29 scoring line in 39 games while posting a -16 rating and serving as an alternate captain. That was one of the better stat lines on a weak Iowa club this year, and his 0.74 points per game was higher than his career average of 0.69 over 382 minor-league games over the course of his lengthy professional career.
As for Butler, the 23-year-old gets a fresh start after a rocky beginning to his professional career. Columbus signed him as an undrafted free agent following a 55-point season with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals in 2022-23. He’s struggled to even hold down a regular AHL role in Cleveland, though, posting just 11 points in 91 games over the last three years. He only appeared in 37 out of 72 possible games last season and was looking like a strong non-tender candidate when his entry-level contract expires following the 2025-26 campaign. He’ll now look for more ice time in Iowa as the 6’4″, 209-lb power winger looks to get his development back on track.
Blockbuster
Wild clearing up some cap space for something big?
@Gbear — No cap space change since Gaunce was in the minors at the end of the year and was on a league-min NHL salary. Butler’s entry-level actually has a higher cap hit, but again, not expected to make an impact since he likely won’t be on the NHL roster.
I was thinking this coupled with the Gaudreau trade earlier.
Very fair
Minnesota is obviously planning on doing some big game hunting come FA with these various moves they’re making. I believe they’re aiming to try to grab Brock Boeser during FA.
Agreed, it’s Boeser or bust for Minnesota. Although I think Boeser would be a good fit in Columbus. On 2nd line with Fantilli and Johnson.