Mattias Ohlund News

You don't have to look far to find head-shaking material following the July 1 free agent folly fest but the best of all might have happened 15 minutes after the opening bell.

With a few days to digest all that happened, the Vancouver Canucks should probably feel pretty good about the events of the first week of National Hockey League free agency.

Goaltender Cory Schneider will be given a chance to make the Vancouver Canucks this fall, which could result in recent signing Andrew Raycroft playing for the AHL Manitoba Moose, general manager Mike Gillis said Tuesday.

Shane O'Brien could have played the arbitration card, but loyalty played a more important role over the weekend when the restricted free agent agreed to a one-year, $1.6 million US contract with the Vancouver Canucks that was announced Monday.

Restricted free agent Shane O'Brien has agreed to terms with the Vancouver Canucks on a one-year, $1.6 million contract.

He's tough, inexpensive and has some potential. Free agent Aaron Rome, 25, brings those attributes to Vancouver after the Canucks signed the former Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman to a one-year, $550,000 US deal Wednesday.

Forget the sluggish economy and the stationary salary cap: On the first three days of NHL free agency, the 30 general managers handed out guaranteed contracts worth almost $550 million.

The money was a factor, but what also convinced free-agent forward Mikael Samuelsson to sign with the Vancouver Canucks was the team's potential to be a Stanley Cup contender.

I haven't written anything about the Canucks for a while, so here are a few thoughts on the draft, recent free agency activity and the rest of the summer: In the first round of the draft, the Canucks selected Jordan Schroeder , a 5'8" American forward from the University of Minnesota.

For all the anticipation, the three biggest fish never really got into the pond.

Langley's Matt Pope is off to the Vancouver CanucAoks rookie camp. Pope is going to GM Place this Sunday afternoon to register and meet up with his future teammates.

The twins could have become prized free agents yesterday, but wound up agreeing to five-year, $30.5-million contracts each late on Tuesday night.

The previous time Marian Hossa travelled the free-agency highway as a fast track to a Stanley Cup ring, it was a wreck.

No Marian Gaborik yet on July 1, but the Canucks did add depth on their defense by signing defenseman Aaron Rome to a one-year, one-way contract worth $550,000 US... by Kevin Lee 126 reads Breaking News No Marian Gaborik yet on July 1, but the Canucks did add depth on their defense by signing defenseman Aaron Rome to a one-year, one-way contract ...

On a day when most Canadians will be celebrating our national holiday, Mike Gillis and his management team will be looking to celebrate in another way, in the form of hopefully a top end player... by Joel Lefevre 35 reads On a day when most Canadians will be celebrating our national holiday, Mike Gillis and his management team will be looking to ...

Lightning signs defenseman Mattias Ohlund to $26 million deal All you need to know about how the Lightning feel about signing free agent defenseman Mattias Ohlund is the response from owner Oren Koules.

Brent Sopel gave the decision to the visitors and Willie Mitchell scored it a split decision.

It seemed like a close series didn't it? It seemed like, with just a bounce here or a bounce there, the Vancouver Canucks would still be playing.

Sedins still top Canucks' to-do list With the Entry Draft coming to a conclusion, GM Mike Gillis can focus all his energy on the twins.

NHL free agency doesn't commence until Wednesday, but the frenzy to figure out sticker prices is overshadowing the entry draft in Montreal.