Abbotsford Canucks sign a pair of players to AHL contracts

Nothing has really been going on for the Vancouver Canucks the past few weeks but it is their AHL affiliate that is making moves.

The Abbotsford Canucks have signed two players to AHL contracts on Friday.

The first was Ashton Sautner who was re-signed by the Canucks organization to a one-year contract. The 27-year-old defenceman was loaned to the Manitoba Moose last season where he played two AHL games.  He spent the majority of the season on Vancouver’s taxi squad.

Sautner originally signed an entry-level deal as a free agent with the Canucks in 2015 after playing four seasons with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings. He helped the Oil Kings to WHL championships in 2012 and 2014 and the Memorial Cup in 2014. In the 2014-15 season he was the Oil Kings captain.

From 2015-2020, Sautner suited up for 240 AHL games with the Utica Comets where he registered 11 goals and 38  assists.

Sautner also did play 23 games with Vancouver. He made his NHL debut on March 25,2018  and the Canucks beat the Dallas Stars 4-1 in Dallas. On March 31, 2018, Sautner got his first point ona Darren Archibald goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He managed three assists in the NHL.

According to The Province’s Patrick Johnston, Sautner and his wife Kelly traveled to Winnipeg for him to play with the Moose and there she gave birth to their first child, a boy named Miles. 16 days later, Sautner, Kelly and baby Miles were on their way back to Vancouver because the Canucks recalled Sautner. The new family stayed in a hotel for the rest of the season, which is crazy.

The AHL Canucks also signed centre Tristen Nielsen to a two-year AHL contract. The 21-year-old spent the last three seasons with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, who play at the Langley Event Centre, which is a 22 minute drive from the Abbotsford Centre.

With the Giants last season, he was second on the team in scoring with 15 goals and 17 assists in 39 games while wearing the “A” on his jersey. In 2019-20, he led the Giants in scoring with 30 goals and 35 assists. With the Giants and the Calgary Hitmen, his WHL career ends with 82 goals and 93 assists for 175 points in 241 games.

Nielsen joined Sportsnet 650’s The People’s Show with Satiar Shah and Dan Riccio to talk about signing with Abbotsford. You can listen to the interview here.

Both Nielsen and Sautner were signed by Abbotsford to provide some depth.

What do you think of the Abbotsford Canucks’ two signings? Let us know in the comments below!