Canucks Sign Paul Cotter and Luke Schenn

The Vancouver Canucks announced two signings within minutes of each other on Wednesday for forward Paul Cotter and defenseman Luke Schenn.

Cotter Joins the Canucks

Cotter has spent the last two seasons with the New Jersey Devils. Last season, he played in 79 games, scoring nine goals and six assists. It was a rough season in New Jersey. He has also played for the Vegas Golden Knights, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2023.

In 296 games, Cotter has 47 goals and has 82 points. He will bring a physical presence to a young Vancouver team. His lineup spot is unknown as of now, but he will likely play in the bottom six. The Canucks are a young team and could do some lineup shuffling, especially if they trade Elias Pettersson.

Schenn Rejoins the Canucks

Schenn is entering his fourth stint with the Canucks, having played parts of three seasons with them throughout his career. The veteran split last season between the Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres. He played in 50 total games, scoring a goal and six assists. He played in just two games in the Sabres’ return to the playoffs this year.

In 1,122 games, Schenn has scored 45 goals and 167 assists. He is known to be a reliable defenseman, and many teams were interested in bringing him on board. Furthermore, he is a known leader in the locker room.

Trade Capital?

The Canucks are not expected to compete this season. As such, new general manager Ryan Johnson may look to flip Cotter and Schenn for draft capital this season. Both will likely be valuable assets at the deadline, especially Schenn.

In the meantime, both can look to help a young Canucks team grow. These are win-win signings for Johnson. He is adding players who can help better the team but can also trade them for future assets at the deadline.

Coverage of the first day of free agency continues with The Hockey Writers.