The Vancouver Canucks made significant moves early in the 2025 free agency period, offering short-term deals to key forwards while choosing not to qualify some key players. Let’s review the Abbotsford Canucks roster activity during the initial days of free agency.
Contract Extensions and Re-Signings
On June 30th, four prominent Abbotsford players secured contract extensions. Max Sasson, an essential part of Abbotsford’s Calder Cup win with five goals and nine assists in 24 games, signed a new deal after also making his NHL debut and scoring his first NHL goal in 2024-25. Arshdeep Bains, who led the AHL Canucks in points with 11 goals and 32 assists in 50 games, also extended his contract for two more years. Aatu Räty inked a two-year deal despite missing much of the playoffs due to injury, impressing at NHL training camp and contributing 17 goals and 23 assists in 43 AHL games plus 7 goals and 4 assists in 33 NHL games. Guillaume Brisebois, a defensive mainstay since 2015, signed a one-year two-way contract, providing dependable depth on both NHL and AHL rosters, tallying two goals and two assists during the Calder Cup run.
Qualifying Offers
Vancouver extended qualifying offers to two Abbotsford players. Jetwoo, part of Abbotsford’s leadership and drafted in 2018, received an offer after contributing goals and assists in 22 playoff games. Goaltender Nikita Tolopilo also got a qualifying offer following his strong regular season with a 20-14-2 record, 833 saves, and a .902 save percentage, plus an impressive NHL debut late in the season.
Unfortunately, several players including McWard, Christian Felton, Ty Glover, and Tristen Nielsen did not receive qualifying offers from Vancouver.
New Contracts with Other Teams
Since free agency opened, three former Abbotsford players have signed with new teams. McWard signed a one-year deal with the New York Islanders, after debuting with Vancouver and contributing during the Calder Cup playoffs. Veteran Phil di Giuseppe signed a one-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets, ending a four-year run with Vancouver where he scored 29 goals and 48 assists in 101 games. Sammy Blace, known for his gritty style, signed a one-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens after an impressive playoff performance.
Unsigned Players and Future Outlook
Several players remain unsigned, including Nate Smith, who recorded 9 goals and 17 assists in 60 games and contributed in playoff action, and Ty Glover, who split time between Abbotsford and the ECHL. Fan favorite Tristen Nielsen, who played 231 games with 52 goals and 63 assists, also remains unsigned. Christian Wolanin, a significant offensive defenseman for Abbotsford, has yet to finalize a 2025-26 contract. Akito Hiros, who made his NHL debut this past season and played key playoff games, is also still unsigned.
For more updates, exclusive interviews, and detailed analysis, follow The Hockey News’ Vancouver Canucks coverage and join the fan discussions.
Fan Take: These roster moves signal a strategic reshaping of Vancouver’s farm system that could strengthen the team’s depth and increase NHL readiness for emerging talents. Hockey fans should watch closely as these decisions impact player development and the future competitiveness of both the Canucks and their AHL affiliate.
