Vancouver Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson announced his second signing of the day, bringing in former Canuck defenceman Luke Schenn to a one-year, $2.25 million average annual value contract.

Schenn, 36, spent last season split between the Winnipeg Jets and the Buffalo Sabres. With the Jets, Schenn averaged 13:44 minutes of ice time, scoring one goal and six assists for seven points in 46 games. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native was traded to the Sabres, along with fellow defenceman Logan Stanley, at the NHL Trade Deadline for a package that sent forward Isak Rosén, defenceman Jacob Bryson, a 2027 second-round pick and a conditional 2026 fourth-round pick (Zach Wooten).

The 6’2″, 225-lb right-shot defenceman has had two previous stints in Vancouver. He was first acquired by the Canucks in 2019 in a deal that sent Michael Del Zotto to the Anaheim Ducks for Schenn and a 2020 seventh-round pick (Viktor Persson). Following that season, Schenn signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning and went on to win a Stanley Cup.

Schenn found his way back to Vancouver, signing a two-year, $850,000 AAV contract in 2021. In this stint, Schenn played most of his minutes on a pairing with Quinn Hughes. He provided steady defensive play, which allowed Hughes to develop into one of the best offensive defencemen across the entire National Hockey League. The Canucks later traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick (Sawyer Mynio).

The former fifth overall pick in 2008 has logged over 1,000 NHL games (1,122), scoring 45 goals and 167 assists for 212 points. Schenn has been on eight playoff runs, logging 60 games, scoring three goals and five assists for eight points. Throughout his 18-year NHL career, Schenn has had stops with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, and Buffalo Sabres.

After adding Schenn, the Canucks’ projected blueline is Filip Hronek, Marcus Pettersson, Zeev Buium, Tom Willander, Elias Pettersson, Victor Mancini, and Luke Schenn. The Canucks bring Schenn in to provide a role similar to his previous stints in Vancouver and a solid locker room presence. He joins Paul Cotter as the two Canucks signing so far on the opening day of free agency.