Canucks boost defense with Soucy, Cole

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After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2023 24 regular season, which starts Oct. 10. Today Brandon Tanev Jersey, the Vancouver Canucks:2022 23 season:38 37 7, fifth in Pacific Division; did not qualify for Stanley Cup PlayoffsKey arrivalsCarson Soucy, D:Signed a three year contract July 1 to play a potential top four role and help fix the penalty kill. Soucy, who turned 29 on Thursday, had 16 points three goals, 13 assists and 68 penalty minutes in 78 regular season games and two points one goal, one assist in 14 playoff games last season playing mostly on a third pair with the Seattle Kraken. Ian Cole, D:The 34 year old signed a one year contract July 1. He had 17 points three goals, 14 assists in 78 regular season games and three points one goal, two assists in six playoff games for the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. Teddy Blueger, F:The 28 year old signed a one year contract July 1 after he had 16 points four goals, 12 assists in 63 regular season games for the Vegas Golden Knights and Pittsburgh Penguins last season, including six points two goals, four assists in 18 games after he was traded to Vegas on March 1. He had two points one goal, one assist in six postseason games to help the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup. NHL Tonight on the offseason for the Canucks Key departuresVideo: NHL Tonight on the offseason for the Canucks, D:Signed a one year contract with the Florida Panthers on July 1 after Vancouver bought out the final four seasons of an eight year contract he signed with the Arizona Coyotes. Ekman Larsson had 22 points two goals, 20 assists in 54 games last season. Video: NHL Tonight on the offseason for the Canucks, D:The Canucks did not issue a qualifying offer after Bear injured his shoulder playing for Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, requiring surgery that's likely to keep him out until December. Bear, an unrestricted free agent https://www.krakenproteamstore.com, had 16 points three goals, 13 assists in 61 games last season. Collin Delia, G:Signed a one year contract with the Winnipeg Jets on July 1 after going 10 6 2 with a 3.28 goals against average and.882 save percentage in an NHL career high 20 games 18 starts last season. Travis Dermott, D:Signed a one year contract with the Coyotes after missing most of last season with a concussion. He scored one goal in 11 games. Kyle Burroughs, D: Signed a three year contract with the San Jose Sharks on July 1. He had five points two goals, three assists in 48 games. Vitali Kravtsov, F:Signed with Traktor in the Kontinental Hockey League. Kravstov was acquired from the New York Rangers on Feb. 25 and had one goal and one assist in 16 games for Vancouver.On the cuspVideo: NHL Tonight on the offseason for the Canucks, G:The 22 year old improved quickly after giving up five goals on 27 shots in his NHL debut Feb. 15 to finish 3 2 0 with a.908 save percentage. The sixth round pick No. 156 in the 2019 NHL Draft helped host Latvia win its first ever IIHF medal bronze at the 2023 World Championship and was named tournament MVP after finishing with a.921 save percentage. He appears to have the inside track on Video: NHL Tonight on the offseason for the Canucks in a competition to back up Thatcher Demko. Akito Hirose, D: The 24 year old impressed with his poise and puck moving after signing as a college free agent out of Minnesota State University on March 29. He had three assists in the final seven games of last season with the Canucks and signed a two year contract July 2.What they still needGiving Elias Pettersson a new contract. The 24 year old forward can become a restricted free agent after the season, and the Canucks prefer to sign their best player long term. Pettersson set NHL career highs last season in goals 39 , assists 63 and points 102. He added penalty killing to his duties and finished seventh in Selke Trophy voting as top defensive forward. VAN ANA: Pettersson records his 100th point of season They said it"One thing that we prioritized was our back end https://www.krakenproteamstore.com/tomas-tatar-jersey, getting a little bit bigger, heavier, PK guys in Carson Soucy and Ian Cole, their playoff experience and Cole's Cup winning pedigree." general manager Patrik AllvinFantasy focusAnthony Beauvillier had a solid start with Vancouver last season with 20 points nine goals, 11 assists in 33 games after being acquired from the New York Islanders. He has high fantasy upside on the top line with elite center Pettersson and wing Andrei Kuzmenko, in addition to playing on their top power play unit with Pettersson, Kuzmenko, J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes. Given his exposure to talented teammates, Beauvillier should be treated as a top 200 overall option in fantasy. Anna DuaProjected lineupAnthony Beauvillier Elias Pettersson Andrei KuzmenkoIlya Mikheyev J.T. Miller Brock BoeserPhillip Di Giuseppe Teddy Blueger Conor GarlandDakota Joshua Nils Aman Video: NHL Tonight on the offseason for the CanucksQuinn Hughes Ian ColeCarson SoucyFilip HronekVideo: NHL Tonight on the offseason for the Canucks Tyler MyersThatcher DemkoArturs Silovs.