Team adds a pair of veterans on short-term deals
The Vancouver Canucks have dipped into the National Hockey League free agent waters landing defenseman Ian Cole and forward Teddy Blueger on one year deals.
Cole signed a $3M deal while Blueger will earn $1.9M next season.
Cole, a 34-year-old veteran, is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017. He had 3 goals and 17 points in 78 games in Tampa Bay last season. A left-shot defender who can play the right side, Cole was among the Lightning's ice time leaders on the penalty kill last season.
Blueger, a 28-year-old Latvian, is a left-shot centre who split last season between Pittsburgh and Vegas. A Penguins 2012 second round draft pick, he had 4 goals and 16 points last season. He appeared in six playoff games for the Stanley Cup champion Golden Knights. Blueger averaged 2:05 of short-handed time per game last season and will be expected to help the Canucks penalty kill.
Will be updated as day unfolds...
A number of former Canucks have found new homes on the first day of Free Agency:
Oliver-Ekman Larsson signed a one-year $2.25M deal in Florida
Kyle Burroughs earned a 3-year $3.3M contract in San Jose
Collin Delia signed a one year contract in Winnipeg. Brady Keeper signed with Montreal. And Luke Schenn landed a 3 x $2.75M contract in Nashville shortly after the free agent window opened on Saturday morning.