(Photo: Loxy!!/flickr)

General Manager Mike Gillis announced late Friday that the Vancouver Canucks have re-signed defensemen Alex Edler to a six year, $30 million contract extension. Edler’s new contract will make him the Canucks’ highest paid blueliner next season, with a salary cap hit of $5 million (x).

The Östersund, Sweden native was selected 91st overall by Vancouver in the 2004 NHL entry draft and steadily began to make a name for himself with the Canucks after his professional debut. Over the last few seasons Edler (after adding a more physical component to his game and perfecting his slapshot) has evolved to become a stronghold on the Canucks blue line, recording a career high 49 points (11 goals and 38 assists) last season.

The 26 year old Swede, entering the final year of his current contract, was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Given the fact, the Canucks are happy to have now locked him up through to the 2018-2019 season in a deal that includes a no trade clause (x).

GM Mike Gillis is pleased to have agreed to terms with Edler, saying that the extension “is good for him and good for us” (x). Gillis has high hopes for the 6’3, 215lbs defenseman, noting that “[he’s] got size, skating, and a great shot…[and he's] going to continue to get better, [and] grow into the role of a top-two defenceman” (x).

Assistant General Manager, Laurence Gilman stresses the importance of keeping Edler as a part of the Canucks defensive core, telling reporters, “[it's] a tremendous thing for our club to have a player like Alex signed…[because it] means our defense is going to be stable for years to come” (x). Gilman notes that Edler is already considered one of the best defensemen in the league (after finishing last season as the seventh highest scoring blueliner) “and he is only getting better,” having not yet reached the prime of his career (x).

Gilman praises the quiet Swede’s versatility, noting “he plays nearly 24 minutes a game…plays on the power play and kills penalties” and that this versatility makes him an invaluable asset to the team (x). Edler has also proven to be an effective post-season offensive contributor, notching 27 points (7 goals and 20 assists) in 55 playoff games played.

Edler’s signing now keeps the Canucks’ top four defensemen (Dan Hamhuis, Kevin Bieksa, and Jason Garrison) together through the 2016-2017 season.

Today on Canucks in Wonderland…

The Vancouver Canucks – Era: 2011 (Photo: Naki Edits/canucks.com)

The Vancouver Canucks are separated into their individual districts and their industries, specialties and most notable members (and the up and coming) are determined.

Sweden

• Industry: style, twins, sleepy eagles
• Notable Members: the Sedin Twins, Alex Edler
• Specialties: Tick Tack Toe Passing, sleeping, being stylish
• Up and Coming Members: Eddie Lack (modeling, Swedish goalie extrordinaire)

Canada

• Industry: sassy French men, a Juice box who likes milk dogs, ‘Kids Who Could Play With Cigarettes in their Mouths’ and men who can grow amazing beards
• Notable Members: Alain Vigneault, Alex Burrows, Hammer the community man, Luu the amazing goalie and Kevin Bieksa
• Specialties: Sass, the art of growing beards (see: Kevin Bieksa, Dan Hamhuis),  the attempt at the art of growing beards (see: Mason Raymond).
• Up and Coming Members: Frankie Corrado; Italian

United States of America

• Industry: sets of Abs, Golden Locks of American Freedom and impressionists Extrordinaire
• Notable Members: Chris Higgins, David Booth and Ryan Kesler (the American Express) and Cory Schneider (impressionist extrordinaire)
• Specialties: the showing off of abs and the impersonating of his teammates/coach
• Up and Coming Members: Jordan Schroeder; Darth Vader (references at x and x)

Denmark

• Industry: a unique set of vocal chords , the art of growing beards
• Notable Members: Jannik Hansen
• Specialties: being fiesty and ‘hot’ at all the right times, also the art of growing beards
• Up and Coming Members: Nicklas Jensen, the little Danish Prince

  

(Photo: taylorpyatt/tumblr)

Dear Hockey Gods.

May there come a point in my life where I don’t start every game recap with ‘Dear Hockey Gods.’

But it seems to have stuck with me and now I can’t get rid of it.

But never mind that; Dear Hockey Gods.

You still have not given us our game back but we shall take these two points and we shall keep them, thank you very much.

Now on to tonight’s game:

» Continue reading “On the Hunt.”

(Photo: Brad Watson/NHLI via Getty Images.)

Dear Hockey Gods.

I guess we had this coming.

After 6 games of simply scraping by and holding on, we come out of this road trip with first degree burns in very unpleasant places.

…That was supposed to be funny.

But enough about that, let’s talk about the game.

» Continue reading “Flame On!!”