Canucks Welcome Back Familiar Face and New Talent
The Vancouver Canucks have made several strategic additions to their roster on the opening day of free agency, focusing on a blend of veteran leadership, experience, and organizational depth for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Among the notable signings is the return of defenceman Luke Schenn, who rejoins the team on a one-year contract. Schenn previously played for the Canucks during the 2018-19 season and again from 2021-23, expressing his desire to be part of the team’s ongoing rebuild.
General Manager Ryan Johnson highlighted the importance of these acquisitions, emphasizing the character and commitment of the new players to the Vancouver organization. Johnson noted that Schenn, with his extensive experience, is seen as an ambassador for the game who can help guide younger players.
Schenn’s career spans 1,122 NHL games, during which he has accumulated 212 points. His history with Johnson dates back to the 2018-19 season when Schenn was traded to the Utica Comets, where Johnson was involved. Schenn also has a prior working relationship with Head Coach Manny Malhotra, having played under him when Malhotra served as an assistant coach in both Vancouver and Toronto.
In addition to Schenn, the Canucks secured forward Paul Cotter on a one-year deal. Cotter, a 6’2″, 213-pound winger, brings five years of NHL experience and 296 games played. Last season, with the New Jersey Devils, Cotter registered 15 points in 79 games. Johnson believes Cotter’s playing style, characterized by speed, physicality, and a scoring touch, aligns well with Malhotra’s system.
Strategic Depth and Future Prospects
The Canucks also signed forwards Akil Thomas and Trey Fix-Wolansky to one-year, two-way contracts, aiming to enhance their organizational depth. Thomas, drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft, has played 196 AHL games for the Ontario Reign and Springfield Thunderbirds, recording 115 points. He has also appeared in 32 NHL games for the Kings, contributing four goals and three assists.
Fix-Wolansky, a seventh-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets, spent several seasons with Columbus’s AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, from 2019-25. Last season, he played for the Hartford Wolfpack, leading the team in goals and points with 55 points in 72 games. During his time with Columbus, Fix-Wolansky played in 26 NHL games, registering four goals and two assists.
Johnson emphasized the importance of depth for navigating injuries and player movement throughout the season, as well as providing support for young players in Abbotsford. He praised Rich Seeley’s role in evaluating the team’s needs and adding pieces to sustain the Canucks through various scenarios.
Further bolstering their defensive corps, the Canucks signed veteran defenceman Jamie Oleksiak to a two-year contract. Oleksiak has played 758 NHL games over 14 years, accumulating 161 points. The 6’7″ defenceman spent the last five seasons with the Seattle Kraken after being selected in the 2021 expansion draft.
Draft Pick Acquisition
In a separate move, the Canucks traded Marcus Pettersson to the New York Rangers in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in the 2030 Draft. This acquisition further strengthens the team’s future assets as they continue to shape their roster. Johnson expressed satisfaction with the day’s outcomes, highlighting his staff’s flexibility in capitalizing on opportunities.
Schenn’s contract with the Canucks is valued at $2.25 million for the 2026-27 season, while Cotter’s deal is for $2.15 million for the same period. Both are one-way contracts. Thomas’s two-year, two-way deal will pay him $900,000 in the NHL and $375,000 in the minors, with Fix-Wolansky receiving a similar $900,000 in the NHL and $525,000 in the AHL.
Schenn, who is 36 years old, has won two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. Cotter also brings a Stanley Cup pedigree, having helped the Vegas Golden Knights to the title in 2023. He has recorded 47 goals and 82 points in 296 career games between Vegas and the New Jersey Devils.
Thomas played in 25 NHL regular-season games with the Kings in 2024-25, but spent last season in the minors, scoring nine goals and 16 points in 39 AHL games. Fix-Wolansky, who is 27 years old, has spent most of his career in the AHL. These moves reflect the Canucks’ strategy to build a competitive team while also developing their prospects.
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Source: nhl.com
