Free agency officially opened in the National Hockey League on Monday (July 1) and ripples from the Vancouver Canucks moves will make their way to the American Hockey League and the Abbotsford Canucks.
Just prior to free agency opening, the Canucks inked defenceman Jett Woo to a one-year, two-way contract on Sunday (June 30).
General Manager Patrik Allvin announces that the #Canucks have agreed to terms with defenceman Jett Woo on a one-year, two-way contract.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) June 30, 2024
DETAILS | https://t.co/fpuJ7CUoVr pic.twitter.com/uX6YwbjRRB
Woo led all Abbotsford defenders in scoring in 2023-24 with 31 points in 62 games. He also led the team with 93 penalty minutes. Woo did briefly get called up to Vancouver in February, but did not appear in any NHL games. He also got injured late in the AHL season and did not appear in any playoff games for Abbotsford this season.
The Canucks 2018 second round draft pick has spent the last three seasons in Abbotsford and has played 200 AHL games. Woo will likely have the opportunity to earn a spot in Vancouver in training camp and will play a signifcant role in Abbotsford if he fails to make the big club.
The directly Abbotsford-related sigings on Monday included goalie Jiri Patera and forward Nate Smith. Patera was signed to a two-year, two-way contract, while Smith was inked to a one-year, two-way deal.
General Manager Patrik Allvin announces that the #Canucks have agreed to terms with goaltender Jiří Patera on a two-year, two-way contract.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) July 1, 2024
Patera has spent the last four seasons in the Vegas Golden Knights organization. The Czechia product appeared in 25 games for the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights in 2023-24 and collected a record of 11-10-4, a goals against average of 2.99 and a save percentage of .903. He also played six games for the Golden Knights in 2023-24, going 1-3-1 and recording a GAA of 3.98 and a save percentage of .893.
He played five games against Abbotsford in 2023-24 going 2-2-1. Patera was a sixth round pick of Vegas in 2017 and played his junior hockey with the Brandon Wheat Kings. Patera joins Canucks contracted goalies Thatcher Demko, Arturs Silovs, Nikita Tolopilo and Jonathan Lemieux.
Smith, 26, spent last season with the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners and posted 31 points in 60 games. He also collected 27 points in 64 games with the Roadrunners in 2022-23. Smith appeared in 14 games with the Arizona Coyotes over two seasons and scored four points.
General Manager Patrik Allvin announces that the #Canucks have agreed to terms with forward Nate Smith on a one-year, two-way contract.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) July 1, 2024
He had three points in two games against Abbotsford last season. Smith was a third round pick of the Winnipeg Jets in 2018.
Along with the additions come the departures and Abbotsford lost its all-time leading scorer to the Detroit Red Wings organization on Monday.
Forward Sheldon Dries inked a two-year, two-way deal with Detroit after spending three seasons in Abbotsford and Vancouver. Dries departs the Canucks organization as Abbotsford's all-time leading scorer with 118 points in 111 games. Dries did play parts of the 2022-23 and 2021-22 in Vancouver and posted 20 points in 84 games.
UPDATE: The #RedWings today signed forward Sheldon Dries to a two-year, two-way contract. pic.twitter.com/YLAfSs9Uud
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 1, 2024
The Canucks also chose to not submit qualifying offers to defenceman Nick Cicek and forward Aidan McDonough. Both played significant minutes in Abbotsford last season. Unrestricted free agents Matt Irwin (defenceman) and Zach Sawchenko (goalie) remain unsigned.
Three-year Abbotsford Canucks player Alex Kannok Leipert signed with the AHL's Bakersfield Condors on Monday. Kannok Leipert had 12 points and 140 penalty minutes in 123 games in Abbotsford. Meanwhile, Abbotsford fan favourite Vincent Arseneau has signed with the Laval Rocket. Arseneau spent the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons in Abbotsford and still ranks fifth in all-time penalty minutes.
The Abbotsford Canucks also announced on Monday that assistant coach Jeff Ulmer will not be behind the bench for the club this season. He had been an assistant coach in Abbotsford for all three seasons. It was stated that he is pursuing an NHL opportunity.
Several Canucks prospects are also participating in a development camp at UBC from July 1 to 4. The Young Stars Classic event then takes over Penticton from Sept. 13 to 16.