Leipsic out, Leivo in as Canucks shuffle wingers
VANCOUVER — One left-winger lost, one left-winger gained.
As soon as Vancouver forward Brendan Leipsic was claimed by the banged-up Los Angeles Kings on Monday morning after being placed on waivers with the purpose of reassignment to the AHL Utica Comets, Canucks GM Jim Benning announced the acquisition of Josh Leivo from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for minorleague forward Michael Carcone.
Leivo, 25, has appeared in 27 NHL games this season and has six points (4-2) and in 84 career games, the Leafs’ third-round pick in 2011 has amassed 28 points (14-14). The 6-foot-2, 192 pound Innisfil, Ont., native has also had 48 and 32-point AHL seasons with the Marlies and will give the Canucks added franchise depth. He’s on an expiring one-way contract that pays $925,000 US and he has arbitration rights.
Benning said that Leivo will be in the lineup tonight against the Minnesota Wild. Benning also suggested that Leivo may be a good support winger for Bo Horvat, who has gone through a number of linemates this season.
Carcone, 22, is on the final year of this entry-level contract. The undrafted 5-foot-10, 170 pound Ajax, Ont., native has 17 points (6-11) in 20 games with the Comets.
As for Leipsic, he was attractive to the Kings, who have lost Ilya Kovalchuk for a month with an ankle procedure and Adrian Kempe to a lower-body injury.
Leipsic had but two goals in 17 games, a minus-10 rating and a yo-yo existence in trying to earn the trust of coach Travis Green. The 24-year-old Leipsic, who is on an expiring contract, could have little clout in arbitration if he doesn’t stick in the NHL.
“He has played some good games and some where he has just been OK,” said Benning.
The Leipsic move also allows rookie Adam Gaudette to continue to grow his game at the NHL level because the club had to make roster room for Jay Beagle. The centre will play today against Minnesota after recovering from fracturing a forearm on a shot block in fifth game of the season.
Gaudette has but four points (1-3) in 23 games and just 10:31 of average ice time, but Green has lauded last year’s Hobey Baker Award winner’s willingness to sell out on every shift.
“We want to keep Gaudette around because he plays centre and because every game he’s showing some good things and gaining more confidence,” added Benning of U.S. college hockey’s top player in 2017-18. “And we feel he’s helping us.”
For Gaudette, the shuffle buys the 22-year-old more time until Brandon Sutter recovers from a shoulder injury, and that faith is not lost on him.
“The hard work in adjusting to the speed and strength is paying off,” said Gaudette. “When I came in for those five games last season and even in this preseason, I looked a little lost and struggled a bit. But now I feel much better and confident with and without the puck.”