Why Boston Bruins fans should keep a close eye on Brendan Gaunce

No team ever wants to deal with injuries, but with injuries often come opportunities. In this case, a number of Boston Bruins prospects had the chance this year to showcase their talents at the NHL.

So far, we saw players like Zach Senyshyn, Urho Vaakanainen, Trent Frederic all get looks in Boston. One player, Anders Bjork, appeared to even earn a permanent spot in the NHL. Next on this list is Brendan Gaunce.

Unlike those other players, Gaunce is not a Bruins draft pick. The Vancouver Canucks originally drafted Gaunce in the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft. He signed with the Bruins this past summer as a free agent.

Although he’s already 25, there are a few reasons why Bruins fans should keep a close eye on Gaunce when he makes his debut in Boston.

First, there’s Gaunce’s obvious first-round pedigree. Teams draft guys in the first round for a reason. They have certain physical talents that other players simply do not have. These talents give them the chance to dominate at the junior level.

Gaunce, for example, averaged over a point per game his last three years in the OHL. He demonstrated high-end offensive talent, and that’s why he drew the attention of NHL scouts.

Most pre-draft reports ranked Gaunce as a consensus first-round pick. Brendan Ross of The Hockey Writers labeled him as a two-way player whohe had the potential to be a future captain.

This hype didn’t exactly translate to the NHL, as Gaunce struggled to produce in Vancouver. He only had 15 points in 117 NHL games with the Canucks. That’s the main reason why the Canucks did not tender Gaunce a qualifying offer.

All that talent and upside Gaunce showed in juniors could still be there. He is only 25 after all. Maybe a change of scenery is what Gaunce needs to unlock it. He does have seven points in 11 games for Providence this year.

Remember Dan Paille? Buffalo drafted him in the first round, but he failed to make an impact there. He made his way to Boston, where he was an important part of the fourth line for a Cup champion.

Brett Connolly is another example. Tampa Bay grabbed him in the first round, but after initial struggles, the Lightning dealt him to Boston. Connolly didn’t exactly work out with the Bruins, but he eventually landed in Washington and had three seasons of at least 15 goals.

Gaunce could be another first round pick who helps a new team somewhere down the line. He probably won’t ever be the top-six forward the Canucks drafted, but he that doesn’t mean he can’t fill a role in the NHL.

Do you want one more reason to watch Gaunce? He suffered a brutal injury earlier this season in Providence as the result of a dirty hit. Gaunce worked hard to come back, and now he earned another chance in the NHL.