VANCOUVER – After giving up a second-round draft pick for his rights last month, the Vancouver Canucks have signed restricted-free-agent forward Linden Vey to a one-year contract.
Vey, acquired at the draft from the Los Angeles Kings for the 50th pick the Canucks got for defenceman Jason Garrison, should be the No. 3 centre next season.
Canucks general manager Jim Benning said he knew plenty about Vey from his time living in Boston while the 22-year-old played for the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs. Vey also played for new coach Willie Desjardins with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers.
“There’s a familiarity with Linden,” Benning said at the draft in Philadelphia. “He’s a puck-possession guy, he’s strong, he’s a good two-way player, he plays a 200-foot game. He’s ready to play in the NHL now.”
Vey only has 18 games of NHL experience due in part to the Stanley Cup-champion Kings’ depth of young forwards. Benning said he’ll get more opportunity in Vancouver.
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