Vancouver Canucks sign Teddy Blueger to two-year contract at $1.8 million per year

The Vancouver Canucks have gotten another piece of their offseason puzzle in place. On Wednesday, Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin announced that the club had re-signed the 29-year-old centre to a two-year contract with an annual average value of $1.8 million.

 

“Teddy was a key addition to our team last year and we are really excited to have him back for a couple more seasons,” said Allvin. “His versatility and experience really helped our group in both the regular season and playoffs. He is a strong leader and someone we will count on a lot more moving forward.”

The Canucks signed Blueger as a free agent last offseason to a one-year deal worth $1.9 million. Given the weak free agent centre market, Blueger almost certainly could have gotten more on the open market. Instead, he takes a paycut to stay with the Canucks for two more years.

Originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Blueger didn’t make his NHL debut with the Jim Rutherford-led Penguins until the 2018-19 season. He developed into an excellent bottom six centre, capable of taking faceoffs, killing penalties, and holding his own at even strength.

Blueger was a phenomenal addition for the Canucks this past season, as he formed one of the best third lines in the NHL for a good chunk of the season alongside Dakota Joshua and Conor Garland after Pius Suter went down with an injury.

Blueger has played 336 career regular season NHL games split between Vancouver, Vegas, and Pittsburgh, recording 126 points (41-85-126), 127 penalty minutes, and a +26 plus-minus rating. He’s also got 37 playoff games under his belt, recording six points (2-4-6), and captured the Stanley Cup with Vegas during the 2022.23 season.

Blueger tallied six points and 22 assists through 68 games with the Canucks this past season, and added two assists in 13 playoff games.