Minnesota continued their depth signings on Tuesday by bringing in Cleveland's (AHL) captain last season Brendan Gaunce to a two-year, two-way contract. The 30-year-old has appeared in 177 career NHL games since 2015-16 and has 13 goals and 28 points during that span. In 2023-24 he spent 24 games with Columbus (4 Pts) and the remainder of the season with Cleveland (AHL) where he had 19 goals and 39 points in 46 games played.
Gaunce will draw in for Kirill Marchenko, who is out with an illness. Gaunce has one goal and two assists in eight games this season.
Gaunce has not been in the Blue Jackets lineup since January 13th but was recalled on an emergency basis on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Gaunce has spent most of the season with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL, scoring 39 points (19G / 20A) in 46 games.
Gaunce was sent down to make way for the return of Sean Kuraly (abdominal), who was activated off injured reserve on Sunday. Gaunce has one goal and two assists in eight games with the Blue Jackets this season.
Gaunce will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Mathieu Olivier to draw back into the lineup for the Blue Jackets. Gaunce is averaging 10:57 time-on-ice through seven games this season, scoring three points (1G / 2A), registering 12 shots, and 13 hits.
Patrik Laine was placed on the injured reserve with a clavicle fracture, allowing the Blue Jackets to recall Brendan Guance from the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. In 24 games with Cleveland this season, Gaunce has 15 points (6G / 9A) and a +5 plus/minus rating.
Gaunce was a healthy scratch vs. the Canadiens on Thursday but will replace Jack Roslovic (illness) in the lineup on Saturday. Gaunce has one assist in three games since joining the Blue Jackets in mid-November.
Gaunce has been enjoying a strong start to 2021-22 in the AHL with Cleveland, scoring 11 points (4G/7A) in his first 10 games prior to his promotion. In 148 career NHL games, he has 11 goals and 23 points.
Gaunce has been enjoying a strong start to 2021-22 in the AHL with Cleveland, scoring 11 points (4G/7A) in his first 10 games prior to his promotion. In 148 career NHL games, he has 11 goals and 23 points.
Gaunce has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury that the suffered vs. the Devils last Tuesday. Gaunce, who has five points (3G / 2A) in 11 games since joining the Blue Jackets, will replace Emil Bemstrom in the lineup.
Gaunce is a little banged up, so he'll come out of the lineup on Friday with Yegor Chinakhov drawing back in to replan him.
Gaunce and Trey Fix-Wolansky will make their Blue Jackets debuts on Tuesday with both Eric Robinson and Emil Bemstrom unavailable. Gaunce was a first-round pick of the Canucks in 2012 and has 16 points (6G / 10A) in 118 career NHL games with Vancouver and Boston. He leads Cleveland in goals (16) and points (28) in 39 AHL games this season.
Gaunce appeared in one game during his call-up and picked up one assist in 9:10 TOI. He returns to the AHL to make room for John Moore to come back from his conditioning stint.
