Canucks re-sign Alex Edler to 2-year, $12 million contract extension

Jun 20 2019, 9:33 pm

After a week of back-and-forth rumours, now it’s official.

Alex Edler is staying put, signing a two-year contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks worth $6 million per season.

“Alex is important to our team and has played as the cornerstone of our defence throughout his career,” said Canucks GM Jim Benning. “He’s a leader with tremendous experience, plays important minutes and contributes to every part of our team game. We’re very pleased for Alex and his family that he’ll continue his career as a Vancouver Canuck.”

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The contract is shorter in term than the three- and four-year deals that were rumoured, and that was key for the Canucks. Edler is coming off an excellent season where he racked up 34 points in 56 games, but he’s also getting up in age. The 33-year-old also has also battled injuries, so there’s no telling when Father Time will catch up to him.

Benning confirmed that Edler’s new deal contains a full no-movement clause, with an exception for availability for the Seattle expansion draft in 2021, which was also vitally important for the Canucks.

The $6 million average annual value is a raise on Edler’s previous contract, a six-year deal worth $5 million per season signed by former GM Mike Gillis in 2013. Edler’s new contract will fit easily under the salary cap, as the Canucks don’t project to have cap issues until they need to re-sign Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes in two years time.

Playing every single one of his 13 NHL seasons with the Canucks, Edler is the franchise leader among defencemen in points (368) and goals (94). He’s also one of just two remaining players (Chris Tanev is the other) from the Canucks’ Stanley Cup Finalist team in 2011.

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