General Manager Ryan Johnson announced today that the #Canucks have agreed to terms with forward Paul Cotter on a one-year contract worth $2.15M AAV.
Nation Sites
The Nation Network
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Vancouver Canucks 2026 NHL free agency live blog
Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Jul 1, 2026, 11:45 EDTUpdated: Jul 1, 2026, 13:34 EDT
Happy Canada Day, Canucks fans! And welcome to CanucksArmy’s 2026 Free Agency live blog.
The Vancouver Canucks are entering a brand new chapter in franchise history. They have new co-presidents in Daniel and Henrik Sedin, a new GM in Ryan Johnson and a new head coach in Manny Malhotra. After finishing dead lasr in the NHL in 2025-26, the Canucks arrive at free agency to roster spots on a rebuilding team to fill and approximately $22 million in cap space to work with, according to CapWages.
The Canucks’ new look front office has already been busy. On Monday they dealt Nils Höglander to the Nashville Predators for a third round pick in 2029, and added Vancouver native Brendan Gallagher from the Canadiens for future considerations, after the veteran winger spent the last 14 season in La Belle Province.
With a rebuild in full swing, the Canucks certainly won’t be big game hunting on this July 1. The priorities for this front office will be filling out the depth chart with cheap vets and young players whose best days are still ahead of them, so don’t expect the likes of Anders Lee, Mason Marchment or Rasmus Andersson to find their names in the Canucks’ rumour mill. And with Teddy Blueger also testing the open market, Vancouver has a middle-six spot open for the second year in a row.
Who will the Canucks new management prioritize in their first year on the job? Who will be brought in to mentor the youth like Zeev Buium, Tom Willander and Braeden Cootes? And which current Canucks might find themselves on the trade wire? We’ll find out as the last major day of the 2025-26 NHL calendar begins.
Make sure to keep this tab open and refreshed throughout the day as rumours hit the internet and the biggest signings of the day make their way through NHL Central Registry!
10:20
We have a Canucks signing!
Cotter is coming off a down year with the Devils, managing just 15 points in 79 games in New Jersey. He’s certainly not going to be a game breaker, but he’ll get more puck touches here and could be a candidate for moving at the trade deadline if he performs well. I like this signing for the Canucks overall.
10:15
Farewell, Klimo. We hardly knew you.
Congratulations to Danila Klimovich on signing a 1-year NHL contract with the Philadelphia #LetsGoFlyers ! #WeAreGoldStar!
10:10
Stuart Skinner 2 x $3.75M Winnipeg
Normally you don’t see many trades on July 1, but this sure seems like some Hellebuyck trade-proofing by the Jets.
10:00
A couple former Canucks are off to greener pastures.
Noah Juulsen signs in Colorado
Term on that contract for Juulsen is two years at a $1.1 million AAV. Someone got the Rick Tocchet boost.
$3.85M x 4 years for Mikheyev in Tampa Bay
Ilya Mikheyev signs a four-year NHL contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. #GoBolts #WeAreGoldStar
Ilya Mikheyev isn’t the same player he was before he tore his Achilles with the Canucks, but the Bolts clearly think he still has gas in the tank.
We got a big signing out of Vegas as well.
Rasmus Andersson 7 x $8.5M Vegas
Rasmus Andersson hasn’t entirely lived up to his potential since his trade to the Knights from Calgary, and he struggled during their run to the Final. But the Knights are banking VERY heavily on that being a blip on the radar.
Another player the Canucks had reported interest in
Jeffrey Viel 5 x $2.5M Tampa Bay
9:45
One of the Canucks biggest targets is off the table. And for HOW MUCH?!
Ian Cole 1 x $4.75M Chicago
The Hawks are certainly paying a premium to find anybody who wants to fix their team, because nearly $5 million is a LOT for one season of Ian Cole. The Canucks apparently made him an offer according to Rick Dhaliwal, but he chose Chicago.
9:30
One of the biggest free agents is off the board and heading back to the Pacific Division.
Mason Marchment sounds like he's headed to San Jose...long-time home of father Bryan in both an on- and off-ice role Word is 5 years, approx $7M AAV
The Sharks are just rounding into form, and Marchment gives them a veteran for their middle six to go along with the incredible youthful core they’ve built.
Meanwhile, Marchment’s former team just keeps making baffling decisions.
Mackie Samoskevich signs with new team Seattle 3 x $3.85M
Bridging a player like Mackie Samoskevich makes little to no sense when the Kraken are having this much trouble assembling a competitive roster. You have to assume this will only cost them in the long run if Samoskevich outplays his deal. They would’ve been better off just locking him in with term right now.
9:20
A couple of Emily Kaplan reports to keep an eye on!
Believe this will be a one year deal for Zuccarello in Los Angeles. Sounds like it's getting done.
Not done yet, but all signs point to Mats Zuccarello signing with the Los Angeles Kings.
Sources say the Detroit Red Wings are targeting Viktor Arvidsson on a two year deal.
The Kings and Wings are teams that need any and all short term help,
9:00: Market’s open!
The free agent market has officially opened for business, so UFAs are eligible to sign anywhere they want. But the biggest deal so far is the player staying with their own team.
See that eight-year term? Demidov’s contract will be one of the last ones with that number, as the max term for returning players drops to seven years. Getting Demidov signed long term was an important step for the Habs with their Cup contention window just opening. Their next step will be finding the outside pieces required to compete with the Hurricanes and teams like them.
8:30: Trades take the early lead
We already have some moves being made, as the Stars make the room required for a Jason Robertson extension.
The Dallas Stars trade forward Mavrik Bourque and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Nashville’s own 2nd round pick in 2027 and Vegas’ 3rd round pick in 2028.
Be sure to tune into the Daily Faceoff Free Agency Special as well! Breaking news, instant analysis, and much more all day long!
Breaking News
- NHL free agency news roundup: Werenski vetoes trade to Stars, Byram to become highest-paid defenceman, and more
- Vancouver Canucks 2026 NHL free agency live blog
- How the Canucks could use double retention to cash in on Brendan Gallagher at the deadline
- 5 unqualified NHL free agents who the Canucks could be interested in
- Looking back on Nils Höglander’s time as a Canuck