By Canadian Press

Vancouver Canucks add veteran goalie, defencemen as free agent market opens

Jul 28, 2021 | 2:04 PM

VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks were busy as the NHL’s free agent market opened Wednesday, bringing in several new players and re-signing some existing talent. 

The Canucks signed defenceman Tucker Poolman to a four-year deal with an average annual value of US$2.5 million. 

The 28-year-old from Dubuque, Iowa, had one assist in 39 regular-season appearances for the Winnipeg Jets last year, and added another two points (one goal, one assist) in eight playoff contests. 

Vancouver also inked a one-year deal with 36-year-old goalie Jaroslav Halak, who posted a 9-6-5 record with the Boston Bruins last season. 

The contract includes US$1.5 million in salary and US$1.5 million in potential performance bonuses. 

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The Canucks are also bringing back veteran defenceman Luke Schenn on a two-year deal that carries an average annual value of US$850,000. 

Schenn, 31, spent the last two seasons with the Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning, and registered four points (two goals, two assists) and 51 penalty minutes in 2020-21. 

The native of Saskatoon previously played 18 games for the Canucks at the end of the 2018-19 season following a trade to Vancouver by the Anaheim Ducks. 

Wednesday also saw Vancouver re-sign forward Brandon Sutter and defenceman Travis Hamonic. 

Hamonic signed a two-year contract that carries and annual average value of US$3 million. 

The 30-year-old from St. Malo, Man., had 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 38 outings for Vancouver last season. 

Sutter, 32, returns to the Canucks on a one-year contract worth US$1.25 million. 

He’s played six seasons in Vancouver but his tenure has been marred by various injuries. Last year, he put up 12 points (nine goals, three assists) in 43 games. 

Canucks general manager Jim Benning made some big moves in the days leading up to free agency, too.

He dealt Vancouver’s first-round pick in Friday’s draft and forwards Jay Beagle, Loui Eriksson and Antoine Roussel to the Arizona Coyotes for winger Conor Garland and veteran defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Canucks then signed Garland to a five-year, US$24.75-million deal on Tuesday.

Later on Tuesday, Benning sent blue liner Nate Schmidt to the Winnipeg Jets for a third-round selection in 2022, clearing out some cap space. 

Vancouver made additional room for new salaries by buying out goalie Braden Holtby and forward Jake Virtanen.

Holtby, 31, signed a one-year, US$2-million deal with the Dallas Stars on Wednesday. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2021.

The Canadian Press