The Vancouver Canucks have announced today that they have signed prospect center Nils Aman to an entry-level contract. Aman was one of the prospects whose exclusive rights expired last week. As part of the announcement, Canucks GM Patrik Allvin gave the following statement on Aman:
Nils is a smart hockey player who plays with speed and has a strong work ethic. 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 drafted by the Colorado Avalanche at the 2020 draft, getting selected in the sixth round, 167th overall. The Avalanche opted to let their exclusive rights to sign him expire, though, and that’s what has allowed the Canucks to swoop in and nab him on an entry-level deal. Aman has spent the last two seasons as a full-timer for Leksands IF of the SHL. Aman ranked ninth among Leksands forwards in average time on ice, getting just under 14 minutes a game, and his role meant he had consistently infrequent production over the course of his two SHL seasons. He posted 10 points in his first campaign and 14 in his second, although he did flash some offensive upside with 41 points in 45 games in 2018-19 for Leksands at the junior level.
While the Canucks aren’t signing Aman with the expectation that he will suddenly become an offensive force, Allvin’s comments provide a look at the more reasonable expectation for what the Canucks hope Aman will develop into in North America. It’s the speed, work ethic, and “good two-way game” that Allvin mentions that will likely carry him as he makes the transition to North American professional hockey, and if he develops well he could be able to play a similar role in Vancouver as he did in the SHL. At the very least, though, this signing gives the Canucks another prospect to add to their developmental system at no asset cost beyond the contract slot he’ll occupy.