The call-up was made after there was speculation that Mikhail Sergachev might have to sit out Monday night’s game against Arizona due to a hard hit he took from Capitals forward Tom Wilson on Saturday.
The move today comes on Gaunce’s 29th birthday, which of course is not really the best birthday news for a veteran AHL defenseman seeking opportunities at the NHL level.
Since joining the AHL nine years ago, Gaunce has logged 591 games in the AHL and just 32 NHL games. He has yet to make an appearance on the ice in a Bolts sweater and likely won’t this season, as long as Dan Girardi and Anton Stralman can get and remain healthy.