Unless you’ve been living under a rock as a Canucks’ fan, you’d understand that Brendan Gaunce plays a defensive role on the team. A simple stats check would prove such; with the 23-year-old registering just two goals and eight points in 97 career NHL games.
Gaunce was extremely effective in this role last year, controlling possession and suppressing shot attempts against at an impressive rate. The former first-round pick finished as the best possession forward on the Canucks; controlling 51.4% of shot attempts. He was also the only forward on the team to allow fewer than 50 shot attempts per hour(49.