Luke Schenn signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.
The 36-year-old defenseman had seven points (one goal, six assists) in 50 games with the Buffalo Sabres and Winnipeg Jets last season. He did not have a point in four games with Buffalo after he was acquired in a trade with Winnipeg on March 6.
Schenn had no points in two Stanley Cup Playoff games.
It will be Schenn’s third stint with Vancouver; he had two assists in 18 games there during the 2018-19 season before returning for two seasons (2021-23).
“I’m excited to come back. Vancouver, to me — It’s kind of felt like home,” Schenn said. “Super-comfortable with the organization, the city, the community. I’m a (British Columbia) guy in the offseason. Vancouver isn’t a place where you’re going to just put another year in. I care about the organization, I care about what they’re doing right now in terms of the rebuild and where they’re going. I want to be a part of that and I’m looking forward to it.”
Selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round (No. 5) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Schenn has 212 points (45 goals, 167 assists) in 1,122 regular-season games for the Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks, Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators, Jets and Sabres.
He said he’s ready to be a veteran leader on a Vancouver team going through a rebuild.
“The first go-around, you’re trying to establish yourself as an NHL player,” Schenn said. “The second time around, you’re trying to win but still trying to prove yourself; we had some more veteran players in (J.T. Miller), Bo (Horvat) and (Quinn Hughes).
“This time around, I understand where I’m at and what my role is. That actually excites me to pass on some of my experience. There’s not much in my NHL career that I haven’t really gone through, whether it’s being a high draft pick, I’ve been traded, I’ve been in the American (Hockey) League, I’ve been in the press box, I’ve won the Stanley Cup. I’ve been on winning teams and been on rebuilding teams, so I think there’s a lot I can share.
“As a veteran, you have to be there, be positive with everyone and work with everyone before and after practice. I want to help out with the culture to where it has been in the past. I’m fired up.”
He has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 60 postseason games and won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021.
The Canucks also signed Paul Cotter to a one-year, $2.15 million contract.
The 26-year-old forward had 15 points (nine goals, six assists) in 79 games for the New Jersey Devils last season. He did not receive a qualifying offer from the Devils and became an unrestricted free agent Wednesday.
Selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the fourth round (No. 115) of the 2018 NHL Draft, Cotter has 82 points (47 goals, 35 assists) in 296 regular-season games for the Golden Knights and Devils and one assist in five Stanley Cup Playoff games.
