Canucks Sign Byron Ritchie and Brad Isbister

[Thrillhouse]

Vancouver, B.C. - Vancouver Canucks Senior Vice-President and General Manager Dave Nonis announced today that the Canucks have signed centre Byron Ritchie and winger Brad Isbister.

Ritchie, 30, comes to Vancouver after having played the 2006-07 season with the Calgary Flames. The 5’10”, 190-pound centre registered 14 points (8-6-14) and 68 penalty minutes in 64 games as well as 10 penalty minutes in one playoff game. The Burnaby, B.C. native has appeared in 253 career NHL games, recording 47 points (22-25-47) and 293 penalty minutes with three NHL teams.

The centre was originally selected 165th overall in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Hartford Whalers.

Isbister, 30, joins the Canucks after having registered five points (1-4-5) and 14 penalty minutes in 19 games with the New York Rangers during the 2006-07 season. The Edmonton, Alberta native also saw time in four playoff games, registering two penalty minutes. The nine year NHL veteran has recorded 211 points (100-111-211) and 577 penalty minutes in 486 games played with five NHL teams. Isbister has represented Canada on the International stage on a number of occasions including the 2000 and 2001 World Championships and winning a Gold Medal at the 1997 World Junior Championships.

The 6’4”, 227-pound left-winger was originally drafted 67th overall in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets.

[blackngold]

NHL.com gave this away last night when they had Isbister listed as a Canuck on their site

[canuckfan]

Wow - I'm not a big fan of either of these guys - I've spent the last 2 years making fun of Ritchie, although I do know he's a hard worker and will give it his all every shift - but this team needs some scorers dammit, not another plugger like Ritchie and a career underachiever like Isbister.

I hope it wasn't for too much money, and that this isn't all Canuck fans should expect from Nonis....

[Sandmachine]

Hope these guys don't take a spot from Rypien.

[Podollan]

I like Ritchie.. he will work hard and drop them from time to time.

[Odjick29]

Originally Posted by Sandmachine

Hope these guys don't take a spot from Rypien.

If Rypien can stay healthy he is a lock to make the team...he's AV's pet

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by Sandmachine

Hope these guys don't take a spot from Rypien.

I was thinking the same thing. Ritchie is pretty much the perfect guy to take a roster spot from someone like Rypien.

While these signings are nothing to get excited over, it's certainly better to have the likes of Ritchie and Isbister than bums like Santala and Chouinard....

[Isles4life]

These guys will work hard, but Izzy has never produced for any real period of time.

[stevecanuck16]

I'm kinda ambivalent to the Isbister signing, but I love the addition of Byron Ritchie. More grit is always welcome on the Canucks!