ICYMI: Abbotsford Canucks sign Wouters, Arseneau, Lukosevicius, Kannok-Leipert

The Vancouver Canucks seem to have the busiest AHL affiliate in the league these days.

Over the past month, the Abbotsford club has signed a handful of players to fill out the roster for the upcoming 2021-22 season, including Chase Wouters, Vincent Arseneau, Jarid Lukosevicius and Alex Kannok-Leipert.

Wouters, who was Abbotsford’s first official signing since being relocated from Utica, was inked to an AHL contract on July 22nd. The 21-year-old centre spent just over five seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Saskatoon Blades, and served as their captain for the last three years.

Known as a talented and high-energy centre, Wouters has made big strides in his overall gameplay during his time in the WHL, specifically on improving his faceoff winning percentage. Wouters was also trusted to play in all situations for the Blades, and has experience on both the powerplay and penalty kill.

In 280 games with Saskatoon, Wouters recorded 75 goals and 106 assists. He also represented Canada at the U18 World Junior Championships in 2018, notching three points in five games.

Wouters’ number 44 was retired by the Blades shortly after his final game last season.

A few weeks later, General Manager Ryan Johnson landed his next player, inking Arseneau to a one-year deal. The 29-year-old winger went back and forth between the AHL and ECHL early on in his career before signing a professional tryout with Utica in March 2018.

Arseneau, who clocks in at 6’2″ and 221 pounds, played 104 games in Utica between 2018 and 2021, where he recorded 21 goals, six assists, a plus five rating and 234 PIM. The Quebec native should bring toughness, grit and physicality to the Abbotsford lineup, and is expected to be a strong veteran presence in the locker room.

Johnson continued to fill out his roster a few days later, adding Lukosevicius to a one-year deal of his own. The 26-year-old right winger spent four seasons in the NCAA with the University of Denver, before transitioning to the AHL to play with the Grand River Rapids in 2019-20.

Lukosevicius, who hails from Squamish, BC, registered seven goals, three assists and 31 PIM in 46 games over two seasons with the Rapids. He also spent time in the BCHL with the Powell River Kings prior to his time in the NCAA, where he notched 135 points in 116 games.

And it appears that Johnson isn’t done when it comes to signing players.

On Monday evening, insider Rick Dhaliwal reported that the Abbotsford club was able to add more depth to their blueline as well, bringing in Kannok-Leipert.

The 21-year-old right-handed defenceman spent the past four seasons with the Vancouver Giants in the WHL, where he registered 83 points in 219 regular season games, as well as 12 points in 22 playoff games during the 2019 postseason.

Kannok-Leipert was named an alternate captain prior to the 2018-19 campaign, and eventually went on to wear the “C” for his final two seasons with the Giants.

The Regina, Saskatoon native was originally drafted in the sixth round, 161st overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The Capitals actually traded up to select Kannok-Leipert, ironically acquiring the sixth round pick from the Canucks.

In addition to these four signings, Abbotsford was also able to bring in blueliner Ashton Sautner and centre Tristen Nielsen this past week, as well as a handful of depth players on two-way contracts at the beginning of free agency in July.

The Abbotsford Canucks are set to kick off their season on October 16th against Bakersfield, but Johnson and his front office team will definitely need to make a few lineup decisions prior to opening night, given how many stable and talented depth players have been brought in to help the organization.

What are your thoughts on the most recent signings in Abbotsford? Make sure to drop a comment below!