According to a team announcement, the Vancouver Canucks have signed veteran defenseman Luke Schenn to a one-year, $2.25MM contract.
Schenn, 36, returns for his third stint with the Canucks organization. The former fifth overall pick of the 2008 NHL Draft, Schenn has already appeared in 1389 games for the Canucks, scoring eight goals and 40 points with a +20 rating, averaging 16:53 of ice time per game.
Still, his last time with the organization came in the 2022-23 campaign before he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Since then, Schenn has spent time with the Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, and Buffalo Sabres.
Understandably, Schenn is no longer the defenseman he was when he last played with Vancouver. Throughout the 2022-23 campaign with the Canucks, Schenn registered three goals and 21 points in 55 games. Since then, the 18-year veteran has scored the same number of points, but it just took him 134 more games.
Regardless, Schenn won’t be expected to replicate his previous output on this version of the Canucks. In the midst of a rebuild, Schenn was likely brought in as veteran leadership as Vancouver prepares to turn their culture around. A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Schenn has been in nearly every situation that the game has to offer, and should be a great presence to have in the locker room as the Canucks continue to graduate some of their prospects.