Canucks assign F Jacob Quillan to AHL Abbotsford

While not a mandatory move with 23 healthy players on the roster, the transaction may indicate that defenceman Guillaume Brisebois, who was placed on injured reserve ahead of Friday’s game against the New York Rangers to make room for Filip Chytil, could return to action as early as Sunday against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Quillan played well in his brief NHL stint, with one assist in three games. He also logged his first and second NHL fights, both in the same game against the Anaheim Ducks. The first was with fellow rookie Roger McQueen, who responded and stuck up for his teammate after Quillan levelled Ducks defenceman Pavel Mintyukov along the end boards. The second came later against Travis Mitchell, who went after Quillan after he made contact with Laurent Broissoit’s skate.

The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia native was acquired by the Canucks in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs almost a month ago, sending him and Brandon Buhr to Vancouver in exchange for Aatu Räty. He’s currently signed to a one-year, $850,000 contract and will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

In five AHL games with the Abbotsford Canucks, Quillan has five goals and two assists for seven points. He is not in the lineup tonight against the Ontario Reign. Akil Thomas makes his Abbotsford Canucks debut tonight against his former team, the Ontario Reign.

The Canucks currently sit in last place in the NHL with a 3-17-1 record, but the Abbotsford Canucks are on a roll. Quillan is joining an Abbotsford club with a 9-3-2 record that is currently tied for the Pacific Division lead with the Tucson Roadrunners.