Canucks extend Teddy Blueger to 2-year contract – Hockey Writers – Canucks deals
The Vancouver Canucks have extended Teddy Blueger to a two-year contract, carrying an average annual value of $1.8 million. Spending most of the 2023-24 season as a center, he scored six goals and 28 points in 68 games. He also had two assists in 13 playoff games.
After winning the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2022-23 season, Blueger tested free agency and found a consistent role in the Canucks’ bottom-6 alongside Dakota Joshua and Connor Garland. He won 53.1% of his faceoffs and led the penalty kill unit for most of the season. He finished with two goals short and is likely to lead the first unit next season if Elias Lindholm doesn’t re-sign with Vancouver.
Related: 2024 NHL Free Agency Tracker
Now, general manager Patrik Allvin will turn his attention to Joshua as he is a waiting agent. Joshua, Blueger, and Garland finished the season as one of the best defensive lines in hockey this past season with a 58.4 percent expected goal percentage, eighth best of any line combination with more than 350 minutes together.
The Canucks have taken a significant step forward as a team this season. They finished with 50 wins, winning the Pacific Division. In addition, they pushed the eventual Stanley Cup winners, the Edmonton Oilers, to seven games in Round 2. With Lindholm, Joshua, and other key members, it will be interesting to see how the system looks different to start the 2024-25 season.
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