The Canucks have recalled left winger Arshdeep Bains, per a team announcement. The Canucks had an open spot on the 23-man roster and ample cap space, so no corresponding transaction is necessary.
Bains, 23, has just eight NHL games under his belt – all coming with the Canucks last year. He went without a point and struggled with a -5 rating and 6 PIMs in that small sample. Vancouver signed Bains as an undrafted free agent out of WHL Red Deer in 2022 after he led the league in scoring with 112 points (43 G, 69 A) in 68 games.
It’s been a smooth adjustment to the pros for Bains, who dominated with AHL Abbotsford last season. The Surrey, British Columbia native was one of Abbotsford’s best per-game producers, posting 55 points (16 G, 39 A) in 59 games en route to a trip to the league’s All-Star Game.
Bains is still waiver-exempt, so he didn’t make the opening night roster to give Vancouver some initial flexibility. But he’s back up now, and he’ll compete to move one of Nils Åman or Kiefer Sherwood out of the lineup to make his season debut. There’s increased opportunity for him to play while Pius Suter is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.