Vancouver Canucks Top 10 Prospect Ranking

3. C Brendan Gaunce (3.8)

Brendan Gaunce is one of Vancouver’s favourite prospects. Not necessarily the club’s favourite, but a fan favourite. That is what put Gaunce at No. 3 on this ranking, though I personally believe he should not be this high. But, no matter who would be ranked third instead of him, there is a huge drop-off after the Canucks’ top-two prospects.

Now, let’s not bash Gaunce, he really doesn’t deserve that either. Gaunce was selected 26th overall back in 2012, and he needed quite some time to make the NHL. But, he made it — and in the end, that’s all that matters.

After spending four seasons with the OHL’s Belleville Bulls, Gaunce made the jump to the pros in 2014. Now in his second season with the Utica Comets, Gaunce is showing that he can be a reliable defensive player while producing offensively as well.

Gaunce had a rather slow start into the 2015-16 campaign and spent a lot of time on the Comets’ bottom line, but he now has 15 goals and 33 points in 43 games. He also got to make his NHL debut this season and recorded his first NHL goal in his second game, against the Arizona Coyotes back in October.

Gaunce will likely never be a two-way centre like Ryan Kesler was for the Canucks, but he can be a reliable third liner with occasional second-line minutes and time on the penalty kill. Which is, after all, the kind of player every club needs. The fact that he spent some time playing on the wing in Utica improves his chances to make the NHL.

Floor: NHL fourth-line forward
Ceiling: NHL middle-six forward

Next: Canucks Prospect #2