Canucks sign 22-year-old Swedish free agent centre Nils Aman
The Vancouver Canucks have made a free agent signing, inking 22-year-old centre Nils Aman on an entry-level contract.
A sixth-round draft pick by the Colorado Avalanche in 2020, Aman is the second prospect added to the organization via free agency by GM Patrik Allvin, following the Arshdeep Bains signing in March.
Aman’s numbers in the Swedish Hockey League won’t blow you away. He totalled 14 points (6-8-14) in 51 games with Leksands last season and has just 27 points (9-18-27) in 110 career SHL games.
I really like the Nils Ă man signing for the Canucks.
6'2, rangy centre with legit speed and smarts. Bit of a late bloomer, but has faired well in a 3rd line SHL role the last couple of years.
Sneaky release pic.twitter.com/ZkTkhTjW4g
— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) June 7, 2022
What Aman does bring is two-way play, speed, and decent size at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds.
“Nils is a smart hockey player who plays with speed and has a strong work ethic,” said Allvin. “He possesses a good two-way game, and we look forward to seeing his continued development on both sides of the ice with the Canucks organization.”
Aman was valued enough to be picked to represent Sweden at the IIHF World Hockey Championships last month, where he notched two assists in seven games.
Nils Ă man #Canucks
2 year ELC
$883,750 cap hit / $925,000 AAV2022-23: $750,000 base + $92,500 SB + $82,500 GP
2023-24: $832,500 base + $92,500 SBColorado, who drafted Ă man in 2020, lost their exclusive signing rights on June 1 making him a UFA.https://t.co/IHG7lrvrLC
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) June 7, 2022
European free agent signings were highlighted as a way for the Canucks to improve by Allvin after he was hired in January.
âThis organization, with fewer [draft] picks coming up, I think this is a great landing spot for a lot of European and college Canadian players. So youâre gonna get opportunities,â said Allvin. âWe donât want to use any excuses. We need to find ways to get better every day and Iâm sure our scouting staff will be up for the task to find more players, better players.â
The Canucks are also still reportedly in the mix to sign this year’s most highly-coveted European free agent, Andrei Kuzmenko. They interviewed him last month, and according to Dhaliwal, and Thomas Drance of The Athletic, the Canucks will be getting a second interview with the highly-skilled Russian forward.
Follow Channels and Categories