Outside of the big signing of Ilya Mikheyev, the Vancouver Canucks have added depth all over the roster today. The team has signed Curtis Lazar to a three-year contract worth a total of $3MM, Wyatt Kalynuk to a one-year, two-way contract with an NHL salary of $750K, Collin Delia on a one-year, one-way contract worth $750K, Dakota Joshua on a two-year contract worth a total of $1.65MM, and Phillip Di Giuseppe on a one-year, two-way contract with an NHL salary of $750K.
On Lazar, the biggest signing of the group, general manager Patrik Allvin released the following statement:
Curtis is a valuable addition to our group. He grew up a Canucks fan, was raised in BC, and already has a strong connection to our club. He is a responsible 200-foot player who can line up at centre or on the wing. Curtis brings energy, an ability to kill penalties and takes draws from the right side, which will be extremely valuable for our team.
Lazar will likely receive regular minutes in Vancouver, after proving he could handle them for the Boston Bruins this season. In 70 games, the 27-year-old scored eight goals and 16 points while racking up 186 hits. He’ll replace a player like Tyler Motte, who was traded away at the deadline, in bringing energy to the fourth line every night.
Joshua, meanwhile, was getting a good bit of attention in free agency because of his performance with the Springfield Thunderbirds in the Calder Cup playoffs. The 26-year-old forward had 15 points in 18 games, an impressive total given he hadn’t ever brought that kind of offense to the table in the past. His deal suggests he’ll also be in the mix for NHL minutes, though that is sort of a lottery ticket for the Canucks given how little experience he has to this point. Joshua has played in just 42 regular season NHL matches.
There was a time when Delia looked like he might be the next starting goaltender for the Chicago Blackhawks but now he appears to be nothing more than some minor league depth. In 32 career appearances at the NHL level, he has a .904 save percentage and just nine wins. With Spencer Martin installed as the full-time backup, Delia shouldn’t be spending much time with the Canucks this season.
Kalynuk, 25, could though, if he can show that the early promise he had in 2020-21 was for real. The former University of Wisconsin standout played 21 games for the Chicago Blackhawks that season and had nine points but was limited to mostly minor league work this year. There are a lot of names ahead of him on the Vancouver depth chart but it’s not like all of them are consistent performers.
Okay no one can complain about lazar @1m x3. Yet they will Vancouver Twitter is aids. Love the signing tho #gocanucksgo
“Looking ahead, maybe short or long term, sense I get is J.T. Miller would welcome playing closer to his home in Pittsburgh and there is interest on Penguins end to acquire him, whether via a trade or as a unrestricted free agent next summer.
Miller has two young daughters and his wife is expecting, and the family built a home near the Penguins’ practice facility.
Any straight-up trade with the Canucks would be difficult give the current cap situations in Vancouver and Pittsburgh. But the sides could get creative by bringing in a third team.
Miller, who can play center or wing, would likely take a hometown discount to play for the Penguins if the opportunity arose, a source close to Miller tells The Athletic.
Anyway, this is something to watch.”
This is from Pens beat writer, Rob Rossi…who is a fiction writer more than a beat writer on most days, but…
Just for kicks…what would it take us to land Miller?
Marino and a first plus what?
Kalnyuk is a great signing. He was on his way to becoming a bona-fide top 4 defensman before that bum of a HC Jermey Colliton decided he wouldn’t get another whiff of the NHL. Mystifying how the Blackhawks continue to lose D-men to other teams that stay for a while in league, in lieu of trash that flame out in a year or two.