Canucks and Teddy Blueger agree to two-year, $3.6M contract extension: Why the deal works

The Vancouver Canucks have made a subtle, but important deal to bolster their bottom-six center depth ahead of the silly NHL season.

On Wednesday, the club announced the terms of an agreement with stalwart defensive center Teddy Blueger. The deal is a two-year extension worth $3.6 million ($1.8 million annual average value), according to the team release.

General Manager Patrik Allvin announces that the #Canucks have agreed to terms with forward Teddy Blueger on a two-year contract with an AAV of $1.8. pic.twitter.com/U19inRxiWN

—Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) June 26, 2024

Blueger, 29, was a crucial addition for the Canucks last summer. The former Pittsburgh Penguins centre – who played a depth role for the 2023 Stanley Cup-winning Vegas Golden Knights – signed a one-year, $1.9 million contract in Vancouver.

The bet was efficient for the Canucks. Blueger played regular minutes on the third line during the regular season, finding excellent chemistry on a line with Dakota Joshua and Conor Garland and matching his career high in points. His short-handed play was also a big part of Vancouver’s year-over-year improvement on the penalty kill.

As it became clear that Elias Lindholm, the club’s prized trade deadline acquisition, was planning to hit the open market on July 1, the past ten days highlighted the urgency for Canucks management to strike a deal with Blueger. Internally, the club wanted to protect its penalty killing options and center depth, especially given the very limited options at center on the open market. The Blueger deal accomplishes all of that gracefully and proactively, and at a relatively team-friendly clip.

Extending Blueger might not be the sexiest move ahead of the free-agent frenzy, but considering the reasonable cap and length of the deal and all the ways Blueger is helping this team play winning hockey, it’s a crucial one step for Vancouver.

Required reading

• Canucks offseason primer: Cap space, trade chips, UFA and draft targets and more
• Canucks free-agent targets: 6 UFAs who could address Vancouver’s center depth

(Photo: Bob Frid / USA Today)