Vancouver Canucks 2026 Free Agency Grades

The rebuild is officially underway. Ryan Johnson's first offseason as GM has been defined by a clear vision, size, character, compete, and smart money. Here is how the Vancouver Canucks' 2026 free agency class grades out.

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Paul Cotter: (1 x $2.15M) - LW

(Grade B+)

GP: 79 G: 9 A: 6 TP: 15 (New Jersey Devils)

Paul Cotter comes to Vancouver after spending last season with the New Jersey Devils, where he posted nine goals and six assists for 15 points in 79 games, averaging 10:41 of ice time per night. He finished with a minus-24 rating on a bad Devils team and was not given a qualifying offer, making him a UFA free to sign anywhere.

At 6'2" and 212 pounds, Cotter brings size, speed, and a physical brand of hockey that Canucks management have been vocal about wanting to add this offseason. He's only 26 years old, has some genuine offensive skill, and still has room to grow into his game. The comp that comes to mind is Kiefer Sherwood, an energy player with enough tools to surprise you.

At $2.15M on a one-year deal, the risk is minimal. He slots into the bottom six, brings some toughness and speed to the lineup, and if he puts together a strong season with consistent opportunity, he becomes a trade deadline asset. For a rebuilding club, that kind of flexibility is valuable.

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Trey Fix-Wolansky: (1 x $900k) - RW

(Grade B)

GP: 72 G: 31 A: 24 TP: 55 (Hartford Wolfpack - AHL)

Trey Fix-Wolansky is a 27-year-old right-shot winger who has spent the bulk of his career proving himself in the AHL. A 7th round pick in 2018, the Edmonton-born winger is listed at 5'7" and has only managed 26 NHL games to his name, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in scoring touch. He put up 31 goals with the Hartford Wolf Pack last season, continuing a pattern of consistent AHL production that has followed him throughout his career.

At $900K on a two-way deal, this isn't an NHL signing, it's a smart AHL addition. Fix-Wolansky brings a proven scoring profile to Abbotsford and gives the Canucks a reliable veteran presence in the system. Ryan Johnson has shown a good eye for this type of signing, and Fix-Wolansky fits the mould perfectly. If he lights it up in the AHL, an NHL call-up isn't out of the question.

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Jamie Oleksiak: (2 x $5M) - LD

(Grade B+)

GP: 78 G: 5 A: 10 TP: 15 (Seattle Kraken)

Jamie Oleksiak is exactly the kind of veteran the Canucks need right now. The 6'7", 252-pound stay-at-home defenceman arrives in Vancouver after five seasons with the Seattle Kraken, where he was a reliable presence on the left side, playing 389 of a possible 410 games. Last season, he put up 15 points in 78 games while averaging 15:06 of ice time per night.

The theme of size continues. Oleksiak fills the void left by Marcus Pettersson, who was traded to the New York Rangers earlier in the day, and brings exactly what a young rebuilding team needs: leadership, physicality, and a bodyguard mentality. Opposing teams won't be taking liberties with the Canucks' young core with Oleksiak in the lineup. The 33-year-old is also one of the most reliable players in the league when it comes to availability, rarely missing games throughout the last 5 seasons.

At $5M on a two-year deal, the risk is limited by the short term. Oleksiak comes with a 12-team no-trade list, but that doesn't diminish his trade value. If the Canucks are willing to retain salary, he becomes an even more enticing deadline asset, either this season or next. Ryan Johnson is building a team that is hard to play against, and Oleksiak fits that identity perfectly.

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Luke Schenn: (1 x $2.25M) - RD

(Grade A-)

GP: 50 G: 1 A: 6 TP: 7 (Winnipeg Jets/Buffalo Sabres)

Luke Schenn is coming home. The 36-year-old right-shot defenceman is no stranger to Vancouver, having had two previous stints with the Canucks, including a memorable pairing alongside Quinn Hughes that helped the young superstar develop into one of the best offensive defencemen in the NHL.

Schenn spent last season split between the Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres after being dealt at the trade deadline. At 6'2" and 225 pounds, he's not the flashiest defenceman in the world, but he doesn't need to be. Over 1,120 NHL games, he has built a reputation as a steady, reliable presence on the right side who brings toughness, leadership, and accountability to any room he walks into.

The role is familiar. Schenn comes in as a veteran presence on the right side, a solid defensive partner, and a locker room anchor for a young Canucks group that is still finding its identity. Much like his previous stint where he was paired alongside Quinn Hughes, Schenn figures to play a similar mentorship role alongside Canucks top defence prospect Zeev Buium, helping the young blueliner develop in the same way Hughes did. He's been on eight playoff runs and knows what it takes to win. That experience is invaluable on a rebuilding team.

At $2.25M for one year, this is outstanding value. The Canucks have used this model before with Schenn, and it worked. There is no reason to think it won't again.

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Akil Thomas: (1 x $900k) - C/RW

(Grade B+)

GP: 39 G: 9 A: 13 TP: 22 (Ontario Reign/Springfield Thunderbirds - AHL)

Akil Thomas is a name Canucks fans may not know yet, but the front office clearly does. The 26-year-old right-shot centre and winger was the 51st overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, and has spent the majority of his career in the LA Kings organization before being traded to the St. Louis Blues midseason. He spent the entirety of 2025-26 in the AHL, splitting time between Ontario and Springfield, tallying 22 points in 39 games combined.

Thomas has shown offensive flashes at the NHL level across 32 career games, and the draft pedigree is real. He hasn't had a consistent opportunity to prove himself at the top level yet, and a change of scenery could be exactly what he needs. For the Canucks, he's solid organizational depth and a legitimate call-up option who should push the pace in Abbotsford.

The connection here is worth noting. Rich Seeley, the Canucks' Assistant General Manager and now GM of the Abbotsford Canucks, previously spent time in the LA Kings organization and knows Thomas well. This has the feel of a Seeley signing, a player he believes in getting a fresh start in a system built for him. At $900K on a two-way deal, the risk is minimal. Trust the process.

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Final Free Agency Thoughts:

Ryan Johnson came into free agency with a clear plan and executed it. The Canucks added size, experience, leadership, and depth without overpaying or overcommitting. Every signing is short-term, every contract has trade value, and every player fits the identity this front office is trying to build.

Oleksiak is the headliner, a proven veteran who brings size, physicality, and a steady presence on the left side that this young group needs. Schenn slots back in for his third stint in Vancouver, bringing a ready-made mentorship role for Zeev Buium. Cotter adds the toughness and energy management have been vocal about wanting. Thomas and Fix-

Wolansky give Abbotsford real depth and legitimate call-up options.

This is a free agency class built for a rebuilding team. Smart, calculated, and no real duds. The foundation continues to take shape.

Final Free Agency Grade: B+