The Vancouver Canucks sent injured centre Alex Bolduc to their American Hockey League affiliate in Winnipeg on Thursday.
Bolduc was dispatched for re-assignment with the Manitoba Moose as he returns from a high ankle sprain suffered in the Oct. 9 NHL season opener against the Los Angeles Kings. Bolduc, 25, won a job centering the fourth-line in training camp, but his injury has triggered a revolving door at the position.
The Canucks have used several players to replace Bolduc, including out-of-position wingers such as Peter Schaefer and Rick Rypien, before settling on journeyman Joel Perrault late last month. Schaefer has since been released, while Rypien has taken a personal leave from the team.
Vancouver's fourth line hasn't provided much of anything through 23 games, and head coach Alain Vigneault has used it sparingly. Winger Guillaume Desbiens, who also won a fourth-line job in camp, has been shelved since Nov. 5 with a broken finger.