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Cole McWard

Canucks Recall Three, Place Filip Hronek On LTIR

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The Canucks announced a series of transactions Thursday, most notably placing defenseman Filip Hronek on long-term injured reserve. They’d already announced Tuesday that he’ll miss the next eight weeks after undergoing a lower-body procedure, so it’s purely a roster move to gain flexibility and cap space for the time being.

Before doing so, they recalled winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki and defenseman Cole McWard from AHL Abbotsford to maximize their LTIR capture. After placing Hronek on LTIR, they also recalled center Max Sasson. They got within $12,138 of the cap, per PuckPedia, setting their LTIR pool at roughly $7.24MM. Their active roster now has a full 23 players, and they have roughly $6.37MM in current cap space after Sasson’s recall.

It’s unclear if Lekkerimaki and McWard will remain on the roster for an extended period of time or if they were purely paper call-ups for cap purposes. Lekkerimaki, Vancouver’s first-round pick in 2022, scored one goal in five games last month in his first NHL recall but has been in the minors since Nov. 21. He has six goals and two assists for eight points in 12 games with Abbotsford this season with a -10 rating that’s tied for the worst on the team.

McWard, 23, is almost certainly a short-term recall. The Canucks already had an extra healthy defenseman on hand in Hronek’s absence after recalling Mark Friedman.

An undrafted free agent signing out of Ohio State in 2023, McWard has yet to see a recall this season and has only six NHL games to his name over the previous two years. In those contests, he has a goal on seven shots while averaging 13:22 per game and controlling 48.9% of shot attempts at even strength. A stay-at-home defender by trade, he has six points and a -2 rating in 21 appearances for Abbotsford in 2024-25.

Meanwhile, Sasson was sent down just yesterday for cap purposes and should stick on the roster for a while yet. Signed as an undrafted free agent along with McWard in 2023, he received his first NHL recall last month and has stuck around with two assists in his first five contests, averaging 8:45 per game. The 24-year-old had nine points in 16 games with Abbotsford before his recall.

Canucks To Start Camp Without Teddy Blueger, Cole McWard

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The Vancouver Canucks will begin training camp without forward Teddy Blueger and defenseman Cole McWard after both underwent minor, lower-body surgery – general manager Patrik Allvin shared with The Athletic’s Thomas Drance. The two will join forward Dakota Joshua and goaltender Thatcher Demko in working to recover from lower-body injuries before camp ends.

Blueger, 30, will stand as the biggest missing piece, having played 68 games with the Canucks last season. It was his first year in Vancouver and he used it to good effect, tying his career-high of 28 points while making the second-most appearances of any one season. The stout year succeeded a 2022-23 campaign to remember for Blueger. He started the year with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he spent the first five years of his career, but a Trade Deadline move landed Blueger on the Vegas Golden Knights. He’d proceed to slot into 24 games with Vegas, between the regular and post-seasons, serving a depth role as the team ran to the first Stanley Cup win of their young history. That was Blueger’s first chance to get his name etched on the Cup, having spent the years of  Pittsburgh’s back-to-back Cup wins in the minor leagues.

McWard, 23, is on the other end of his career, just completing his first season after joining Vancouver as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He’s been awarded six NHL games to this point, scoring one goal, though he spent the majority of this season with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks. McWard managed 17 points in 57 games with the junior Canucks, ranking fourth among the team’s defenders in scoring.

The training camp absence will hinder both – as Blueger looks to fend off competition for his fourth-line role, and McWard looks to claim one of the open spots on Vancouver’s blue-line. The pair’s injuries could give a boost to players like Kiefer Sherwood and Noah Juulsen, or even open more room for Sammy Blais as he tries to vindicate a professional try-out agreement. All three will battle for quaint roles in the lineup, but could end up pivotal pieces as Vancouver eyes another berth into the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Canucks Sign Linus Karlsson, Cole McWard To One-Year Extensions

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The Vancouver Canucks have signed forward Linus Karlsson and defenseman Cole McWard to matching one-year, two-way contracts. The details of the contracts, including cap hit and potential bonuses, haven’t yet been revealed.

Vancouver traded away the rights to Jonathan Dahlen to acquire Karlsson in 2019. He’s since spent two full seasons with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, totaling 24 goals and 49 points in 72 games last season and a team-leading 60 points in 60 games this season. The performances have cemented Karlsson as one of Vancouver’s top prospects, even if he’s yet to record a point in the four NHL games he’s played. He’ll be one of many top prospects vying for a spot on the opening night roster, competing with players like Aatu Raty, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, and Arshdeep Bains. Karlsson’s new short-term, easily-movable deal suggests he could be on the backend of this group – though another strong season in the minors would certainly force Vancouver’s hand.

Meanwhile, McWard vindicates his first pro contract with this extension – after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and playing through his first year of pro hockey this season. The right-shot managed 17 points in 57 games while operating down Abbotsford’s lineup, looking well-adjusted to the professional scene. He’ll return to a rife competition for ice time on Abbotsford’s blue line, fighting for a spot above Jett Woo and Filip Johansson. McWard could warrant NHL ice time should he perform well, having already scored one goal in six NHL games over the last two seasons.

Canucks Recall 13 Black Aces Ahead of Game 2

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The Vancouver Canucks have brought up reinforcements from the minor leagues following the Abbotsford Canucks’ elimination from the AHL playoffs, recalling 13 players (Twitter link). The full list includes forwards Arshdeep Bains, Linus Karlsson, Danila Klimovich, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Vasily Podkolzin, Aatu Räty, and Max Sasson; defenders Nick Cicek, Matt Irwin, Cole McWard, Elias Pettersson, and Christian Wolanin; and goaltender Zach Sawchenko.

The list features four of the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks top five scorers, following the team’s elimination from the AHL’s Pacific Division Finals at the hands of the Ontario Reign. Abbotsford went on a strong postseason run after tying for fourth in the AHL in goals scored during the regular season. Now, their best and brightest will bolster a Vancouver lineup that’s currently up 1-0 on the Oilers. Thatcher Demko is the only Canuck currently out with injury, likely keeping any of today’s recalls from slotting into the lineup right away. But the team will have a wide array of options to choose from should they need a fill-in – ranging from highly-skilled prospects in Lekkerimäki and Räty, to hard-nosed forwards Bains and Podkolzin, to rangy defenders Irwin and Pettersson.

While Podkolzin, Bains, Karlsson, and McWard have each played in NHL games this season, the former is the only one to earn a significant role. Podkolzin played in 19 games and recorded two assists this season, averaging just under 11 minutes of ice time. He’d likely be the first bet for a fill-in should Vancouver need a forward, while Irwin – the only member of the list with Stanley Cup Playoffs experience – likely leads the defenders.

Canucks Reassign Cole McWard

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The Canucks assigned defenseman Cole McWard to the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks on Thursday, per an announcement from GM Patrik Allvin.

Vancouver signed McWard, 22, to a two-year entry-level contract in April. The undrafted free agent signing out of Ohio State University joined the team immediately, recording one goal in five games and burning the first year of the contract. He did not crack the Canucks roster out of training camp in 2023-24, though, and was assigned to Abbotsford to begin the season.

There, he started off his minor-league career with a goal, three assists, four points, and a +5 rating in 15 games before earning a recall from Vancouver last week. With Carson Soucy sidelined with a foot injury, the Canucks have been rotating players on their bottom defense pairing, including McWard, Mark Friedman, Akito Hirose, Noah Juulsen, and now Matt Irwin, who the Canucks recalled from Abbotsford yesterday and will make his season debut tonight against the Golden Knights.

McWard was rostered for three games during his recall but only played in one, logging one shot on goal in 9:05 of ice time against the Ducks on Tuesday. The right-shot defender, who remains waiver-exempt, will now resume a regular role in the minors. He will be a 10.2(c)-designated RFA at the end of the season, meaning he is ineligible to elect salary arbitration and ineligible to sign an offer sheet.

Vancouver Canucks Sign Cole McWard

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The Vancouver Canucks have added depth to their prospect pool by signing undrafted free agent Cole McWard to a two-year, entry-level contract, according to a press release from the team late Tuesday night. The 21-year-old right-shot defenseman recently completed his sophomore season with the Ohio State University Buckeyes.

PuckPedia reports that the contract, which walks McWard to restricted free agency in 2024, carries a cap hit of $922,500. McWard will earn an $855,000 salary this season and an $800,000 salary in 2023-24, a $95,000 signing bonus in both years and a potential $55,000 games played bonus in 2023-24.

McWard’s consistent offensive production over the past few seasons signals he could be a solid add for a team struggling with defensive depth on the right side. TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Wednesday morning that Canucks fans won’t have to wait long to see him in action, as McWard is expected to make his NHL debut tomorrow versus the Chicago Blackhawks.

McWard, born in Fenton, Missouri, posted 21 points (nine goals and 12 assists) and eight penalty minutes in 39 games in 2022-23 at Ohio State. Those numbers led all Buckeyes defensemen in goals and finished second in assists and points.

During his freshman season, McWard also appeared in 36 of 37 games for Ohio State, posting 16 points, 40 blocked shots, and a +13 rating. He finishes his collegiate career with 37 points in 75 games.

In a statement, Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin praised McWard’s offensive production during his two seasons at Ohio State and his leadership skills during his final season with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL in 2020-21. The Canucks will work with the young blueliner to round out his game as he transitions to the professional level.

Before college, McWard played 149 USHL games with the Storm, recording 23 goals, 57 points, and 101 penalty minutes. He was the team’s captain and was selected to the All-USHL Second Team in 2021.

The Canucks have been active in the college free agent market this offseason, also signing center Max Sasson out of Western Michigan University and left defenseman Akito Hirose out of Minnesota State University. They all represent solid depth adds to a growing prospect pool as the Canucks try to figure out a long-term recipe for sustained success.

CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal reported yesterday that Vancouver was a frontrunner for McWard.

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