VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks sent centre Zac Dalpe to their minor-league affiliate on Saturday for a conditioning assignment.

Dalpe has appeared in six games for the Canucks this season. This will be his first stint with the American Hockey League's Utica Comets.

Vancouver acquired the six-foot-one, 195-pounder alongside Jeremy Welsh from the Carolina Hurricanes on Sept. 28 in exchange for Kellan Tochkin and the fourth round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.