Calgary Flames Trade Granlund For Hunter Shinkaruk

The Calgary Flames have acquired Hunter Shinkaruk from the Vancouver Canucks in a one-for-one deal for Markus Granlund.

The deal was announced by the Vancouver Canucks earlier today and it appears to be somewhat of a steal for the Calgary Flames organisation.

Calgary native, Hunter Shinkaruk was picked up 24th overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. He has 21 goals and 18 assists through 45 games with the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League this year, also making his NHL debut in November.

Markus Granlund has split this season between the NHL and AHL with a career NHL tally of 28 points in 86 games for the Calgary Flames.

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For the Calgary born Shinkaruk, the move represents a homecoming of sorts and he will no doubt be itching to pull on a Calgary Flames jersey for the first time.

That won’t occur instantly for him though, as the Calgary Flames have assigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat for the meantime.

The trade sees a two-way player in Granlund head to a Canucks team that appears somewhat stacked with centre-men, whilst Shinkaruk represents a first-round pick with potential as a point scorer in the NHL.

Shinkaruk was chosen as the representative for the Utica Comets at the AHL All-Star Game earlier this year, and thus is certainly judged to have some level of talent; Granlund has filled on the third and fourth line for the Calgary Flames – by the seems of it, the deal is somewhat lopsided.

The potential for Shinkaruk to develop into an NHL-level player appears to definitely be there; he could be a strong piece on the right wing of a line with Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau if he reaches maximum potential. Otherwise, he could still likely find a comfortable spot on the second line.

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To add someone with a degree of size and talent on the right wing is a big steal for the Calgary Flames; Jiri Hudler won’t likely be staying and the team need to re-stock their side on that wing.

Shinkaruk to me is a good deal, especially given the ceiling on Granlund’s talent. What do you think of the deal; was this a shrewd move taking advantage of a lapse in Canucks’ judgement? Let us know in the comments section.