The Vancouver Canucks finally snagged a player in the free agent market Friday, adding depth winger Mikael Samuelsson with a three-year, $7.5 million deal.

"Obviously that (the money) was the key, I shouldn't lie," Samuelsson said in a telephone conference call Friday after signing a three-year NHL deal with Vancouver.

"They have a good thing going and I think my role can be a little different here."

Samuelsson, 32, recorded 40 points in 81 games last season and 10 points in 23 playoff games with Detroit through to the 2009 Stanley Cup Final.

"I like the team," he said. "When you play against Vancouver it's always a hard game and a skill game too."

"You need some experience (to win the Cup). You need to be hungry. I believe we can do some damage."

In 466 career NHL games, he has 208 points and 244 penalty minutes. The Mariefred, Sweden native was a member of the 2007/08 Stanley Cup Champion team and has produced a career total of 35 points in 69 postseason games.

Samuelsson may get a shot at top six playing time but is seen more as a third liner.

Posted on July 3rd, 2009 by Chris - Comments

The first day of free agency was rather unclimactic for Vancouver Canucks fans. We watched other teams lock up nearly all of the big names, said goodbye to Mattias Ohlund, then finished the day by losing our back-up goaltender to Phoenix.

Jason LaBarbera was 8-10-6 with a 2.78 goals-against average with two shutouts in 28 games last season for the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks.

This means top AHL goaltender Cory Schneider will probably be back-up, and he'll need to play at least 15 games if the Canucks want him to continue progressing - preferably closer to 30.

While the Sedins re-signing is nice, it seems like the Canucks never snag one of the big names on July 1, and 2009 is no different.

Posted on July 2nd, 2009 by Chris - Comments

After spending his entire 12-year career with the Vancouver Canucks, defenceman Mattias Ohlund is going to the Tampa Bay Lightning with a new seven-year contract worth $26.25 million.

The 32-year-old native of Sweden had six goals and 19 assists in 81 games with the Canucks last season.

Ohlund was drafted by the Vancouver 13th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.

In 770 career regular season games, Ohlund has 93 goals and 232 assists for 325 points. He the leads the franchise all-time for defencemen in goals and points.

He could end up playing on the same pairing as superstar prospect and countryman Victor Hedman, who was recently drafted 2nd overall.

Posted on July 1st, 2009 by Chris - Comments

Just when it looked like Daniel and Henrik Sedin might continue their careers elsewhere, the dynamic duo re-signed with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1st - the day they became unrestricted free agents.

The twins, who won over many fans with their solid post-season performance last spring, will average $6.1 million per season each for the next five years -- definitely a discounted deal when you consider that all other players with their point production average closer to $7 million per season.

Playing side by side for the Canucks, the duo has amassed 288 goals, 634 assists, and 922 points in 1,288 games combined.

While this is great news for the team, it may lead to an anti-climatic Free Agency Day as much of the team's extra cap space will eaten up by the twins and Roberto Luongo, who is expected to sign an extension any day now.

Posted on July 1st, 2009 by Chris - Comments