Patrik Allvin has signed another European free agent and another Swedish player. First the Vancouver Canucks signed Nils Aman last week and on Monday morning, they announced they have signed defenceman Filip Johansson to a two-year entry level contract.
Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the club has agreed to terms on a two-year, entry level contract with defenceman Filip Johansson.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) June 13, 2022
DETAILS | https://t.co/3EXtOYknIF pic.twitter.com/QokYh1Idix
Johansson was originally drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the first round, 24th overall in 2018. The Wild did not re-sign him prior to the June 1 prospect signing deadline. As a result, they will receive a compensatory second round pick in next month’s draft according to The Athletic’s Michael Russo.
“Filip plays a solid defensive game and has shown consistent improvement over the past three seasons.” said Allvin in the press release. “He will continue to develop his game in Sweden with Frölunda next season, but we look forward to welcoming him to Vancouver for Development Camp at UBC next month.”
Johansson is a 6’1″, 176 pound right-handed defenceman and he played 47 games with the SHL’s Frölunda HC scoring three goals and managing eight assists this past season. He spent the last two seasons with Frölunda after spending five seasons with the Leksands IF organization.
The 22-year-old also scored five goals in nine playoff games with Frölunda this past season.
https://twitter.com/ChrisFaber39/status/1536405938248200193
Johansson is seen as a disappointing first round pick in Minnesota and he gets a second chance at the NHL with the Canucks. His ceiling is probably a depth or third-pairing defenceman.
Filip Johansson should not have been selected in the 1st round back in '18
— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) June 13, 2022
But he is a 22yo, right-shot D who just put up 5G and 7PTS in 9 SHL playoff games. His skating is fine and he's added some more physicality to his game
Free darts are cool. Van needs darts. I like it.
The Canucks need right-handed defenceman in their organization and it was good that they found one. Johansson isn’t a game changer by any means but Allvin has talked about the importance of depth in the organization and hopefully Johansson can bring that.
He also has connections to Canucks prospect Lucas Forsell who did well with the Färjestad BK Under 20 team this past season.
https://twitter.com/ChrisFaber39/status/1536396813179052032
There is the possibility the Canucks are not done signing European free agents. They have been heavily linked to Russian forward Andrei Kuzmenko and he will have his second meeting with the Canucks this week.
Kuzmenko will meet with Canucks in Vancouver next week. https://t.co/t4KWNmzzfT
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) June 12, 2022
What do you think of the Canucks signing Johansson? Let us know in the comments below, in the Facebook comments or on Twitter.