Ex-Vancouver Canucks forward Markus Granlund scores incredible goal for European club
It’s almost as if Markus Granlund heard about the “Sea of Granlunds” and took it personally.
The former Vancouver Canucks forward hasn’t played for the organization since 2019 and hasn’t been in the NHL since 2020. However, the 32-year-old has managed to carve out a lengthy hockey career over in Europe.
Granlund is currently playing for Geneva Servette in the National League, which is Switzerland’s top hockey league.
He’s been one of the top players in the NL ever since signing there originally with Lugano back in 2022, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
Last Friday against EV Zug, Granlund undressed both defenceman David SkleniÄka and goaltender Tim Wolf to score one of the nicest goals you’ll ever see.
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The goal was Granlund’s seventh in 13 games, and his 14 points currently rank 10th overall in league scoring.
Granlund isn’t the only noteworthy NHLer playing for Geneva. Former 2016 fourth overall pick Jesse PuljujĂ€rvi leads the team in scoring. Geneva also employs former Canucks winger Jimmy Vesey.
The Canucks originally acquired Granlund from the Calgary Flames in exchange for prospect Hunter Shinkaruk back on Feb. 16, 2016.
He had somewhat of a breakout season the following year, scoring 19 goals in 68 games. That placed him second on the team in goals, behind only Bo Horvat, who scored 20.
However, Granlund scored just 20 goals over the next two seasons and left Vancouver as a free agent in 2019. He signed with the Edmonton Oilers that offseason, bouncing between the NHL and AHL before heading over to Europe.
The NL is littered with former NHLers. One of the current scoring leaders is defenceman Erik BrÀnnström, whom the Canucks acquired last year before they sent him to the New York Rangers as part of the blockbuster J.T. Miller trade.