Free Agent Frenzy: Canucks sign Burnaby-born defenceman Patrick Wiercioch to 1-year contract
Canucks GM Jim Benning has been a busy man on the first day of free agency in the NHL, plugging a number of holes.
That includes signing defenceman Patrick Wiercioch to a one-year, one-way contract worth $650,000.
“Patrick has excellent mobility for a player his size and possesses a big shot from the point,” said Benning. “He’ll add to our depth on the blue line and we’re excited to give him the opportunity to play for his hometown team.”
This is a homecoming for the Burnaby product. A former member of the Burnaby Express in the BCHL, Wiercioch was a second-round draft pick by the Ottawa Senators in 2008.
He was incredibly productive offensively during his first two NHL seasons, tallying 19 points in 42 games in 2012-13, and 23 points in 53 games in 2013-14.
Since then, Wiercioch’s stock has dipped.
He played for a dreadful Avalanche team last season, scoring 12 points (4-8-12) in 57 games. He was a depth defenceman for the league’s worst team, playing just 16:39 per game.
Analytics didn’t tell a great story for Wiercioch, who was last among all Avs regulars on the blueline in Corsi-for percentage (46.6%) last season. That’s an aberration though, as Wiercioch was consistently one of Ottawa’s best performers among defencemen in the Corsi category.
The 26-year-old still has a lot to prove, but he’s in a good organization for that. Not blessed with a ton of talent, Vancouver is the land of opportunity right now.
The 6-foot-5, 202-pound left shot defenceman has played in 268 career NHL games over parts of six seasons, registering 74 points (4-8-12).
See also
- Demers refuses to waive no-trade clause, vetoes Canucks-Panthers trade
- Free Agent Frenzy: Canucks sign Sam Gagner to a 3-year contract
- Free Agent Frenzy: Canucks sign Michael Del Zotto to a 2-year contract
- Free Agent Frenzy: Canucks sign Anders Nilsson to a 2-year contract
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