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Finding no takers, Canucks assign Prust to AHL

Jonathan Ericsson, Brandon Prust, Petr Mrazek

Vancouver Canucks’ Brandon Prust (9) deflects the puck over the net behind Detroit Red Wings’ goalie Petr Mrazek, right, of the Czech Republic, as Jonathan Ericsson, of Sweden, defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

AP

After failing to trade him, the Vancouver Canucks have assigned forward Brandon Prust to AHL Utica.

Prust, a pending unrestricted free agent, cleared waivers yesterday. The 31-year-old becomes the second veteran forward to be sent down by the Canucks in 2016. Chris Higgins joined the Comets in January.

Canucks GM Jim Benning told TSN 1040 radio this morning that he’d “talked to some teams on Brandon to try and get him an opportunity to stay in the NHL.” Benning was “waiting to hear back from one more team,” but obviously nothing came of that.

Both Prust and Higgins became casualties of the Canucks’ youth movement, as wingers like Jake Virtanen, Sven Baertschi, and Emerson Etem have infused the roster with some much-needed speed.

Of note, even after demoting Prust, the Canucks will have to free up one more roster spot before defenseman Dan Hamhuis can be activated off injured reserve.

Hamhuis is expected back Saturday against Calgary.