Canucks sign free agent Tyler Myers to 5-year, $30 million contract

The Vancouver Canucks have added the biggest player in free agency.

Literally.

The long-rumoured deal is now official, as Tyler Myers has agreed to a five-year contract with the Canucks, worth $6 million per season. He’s one of two top-six defencemen acquired by Canucks GM Jim Benning today, as Jordie Benn is also heading west.

“Tyler Myers has made a big impact on every team he’s played on throughout his career and we’re excited about how he’ll improve our blueline next season,” said Canucks GM Jim Benning in a media release. “He gets up and down the ice with ease, has incredible size and reach, but most importantly, he’s a character player and role model that our younger players can emulate.

“Tyler is a proven competitor and an important addition to our roster. His experience, character, and size are qualities that will help our team. We are excited to have Tyler and his family join our team.”

A 6-foot-8, 229-pound defenceman, Myers scored 31 points (9-22-31) in 80 games with the Winnipeg Jets last season.

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The 29-year-old was drafted 12th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2008, and promptly won the Calder Trophy in 2010. He hasn’t been able to replicate his first-season success, though he has proven to be a capable puck-mover and point-producer.

Myers’ critics will point to his underwhelming underlying numbers, which suggest he is not a top-four defenceman. Indeed in Winnipeg, he wasn’t, though Myers played behind Dustin Byfuglien and Jacob Trouba on the Jets’ right side.

Though the dollar figure is cheaper than some had suggested last week, this is still a big contract on the books for the Canucks. Myers is tied with Alex Edler and Loui Eriksson as the highest-paid players on the team.

The move to Vancouver is a homecoming of sorts for the Calgary native, who played junior hockey in Kelowna and whose wife is from BC.

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