Canucks re-sign Rathbone, Juulsen and Lockwood

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 23: Jack Rathbone #3 of the Vancouver Canucks skates against the Seattle Kraken during the franchise's inaugural home game at the Climate Pledge Arena on October 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 23: Jack Rathbone #3 of the Vancouver Canucks skates against the Seattle Kraken during the franchise's inaugural home game at the Climate Pledge Arena on October 23, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Happy Canada Day folks. Usually, this is a day when the Vancouver Canucks make moves in free agency. Obviously, these aren’t normal times and free agency begins on July 13 this year. However, the Canucks did make some moves on this year’s Canada Day.

The club announced that they have re-signed Jack Rathbone, Noah Juulsen and Will Lockwood.

Rathbone was signed to a one-way two year contract. Thomas Drance of The Athletic reported that the AAV for Rathbone is $850,000.

Rathbone was drafted by the Canucks in the fourth round, 95th overall in 2017. He made his NHL debut late in the 2020-21 season and played eight games scoring one goal and two assists.

This past season, he played nine games with Vancouver putting up zero points. However, he excelled in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks.  Rathbone led all Abbotsford defenceman in goals, (10) assists, (30)and points (40) in 39 games played.

It looks like the organization expect Rathbone to take big step next season and hopefully he sticks around with the big club.

Both Lockwood and Juulsen’s contracts are one year, two-way deals. According to CapFriendly, their AAVs are both $750,000.

Juulsen was acquired by the Canucks in a trade last September from the Florida Panthers. He and Juho Lammikko came to Vancouver in exchange for Olli Juolevi.

The Surrey BC native was originally drafted 26th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2015 after a solid junior career with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips. But he did not live up to expectations.

Juulsen played eight games with Vancouver this past season and managed two assists. With Abbotsford, he played 50 games and scored three goals and got 13 assists.

Lockwood was drafted by Vancouver in the third round, 64th overall in 2016. After four years at the University of Michigan, he made his NHL debut late in the 2020-21 season. Lockwood played 13 games with the Canucks this past season, registering zero points. With Abbotsford, he played 46 games, he scored nine goals and 16 assists.

What are your thoughts on the Canucks re-singing these players? Let us know in the comments below, in the Facebook comments or on Twitter.