Canucks extend Teddy Blueger to two-year contract – The Hockey Writers – Canucks transactions

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 six 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 shorthanded goals and will likely lead the main squad next season if Elias Lindholm does not re-sign in Vancouver.

Related: 2024 NHL Free Agency Tracker

Now general manager Patrik Allvin will shift his focus to Joshua as he too is a free agent. Joshua, Blueger and Garland finished the season as one of the best defensive forwards in hockey last season with an expected goals percentage of 58.4, eighth best of all line combinations with over 350 minutes combined.

The Canucks have taken an important step as a team this season. They finished with 50 wins and won the Pacific Division. Additionally, they pushed eventual Stanley Cup runners-up, the Edmonton Oilers, to seven games in Round 2. With Lindholm, Joshua and other members of the core, it will be interesting to see how different the roster looks at the start of 2024. -25 season.