The Vancouver Canucks have recalled defenceman Matt Irwin and forward Linus Karlsson from the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks, the club announced Wednesday morning.
In a corresponding move, the team sent defenceman Akito Hirose down to Abbotsford. The 24-year-old defender has appeared in just three games with Vancouver this season, most recently logging just 11:06 of ice time against the Seattle Kraken on November 18.
The Canucks had initially recalled Hirose from Abbotsford back on November 17. Irwin, his replacement, has yet to play a regular-season game with Vancouver since signing a one-year deal with the Canucks on July 1.
Irwin, 36, has appeared in 461 career NHL games over parts of 11 seasons with the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators, Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, and Washington Capitals, collecting 25 goals and 93 points.
The Victoria product played his junior hockey with the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers before playing two seasons at UMass-Amherst. The undrafted defender made his professional debut in the Sharks organization at the end of the 2009–10 season.
Karlsson, 24, made his NHL debut with the Canucks back on November 16 against the Calgary Flames, taking three shots on goal in 11:54 of ice time.
The Canucks originally acquired Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks in 2019 in exchange for fellow Swedish prospect Jonathan Dahlen, who ultimately spent just one season in the NHL.
Karlsson arrived in North America in time for the 2022–23 season, in which he scored 24 goals and 49 points in 72 games with Abbotsford. This year, Karlsson has three goals and 15 points in 17 games with the farm club.
The Canucks’ leading farmhand scorer is 22-year-old forward Arshdeep Bains, who is still awaiting his first NHL opportunity. He’s currently dealing with a minor injury. Karlsson, Sheldon Dries, and Nils Åman — the latter of whom is also currently with Vancouver — are all tied for second behind Bains with 15 points this season.
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