Canucks Sign Mikael Samuelsson

[Thrillhouse]

Vancouver, B.C. - Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that the Canucks have signed right winger Mikael Samuelsson to a three-year deal.

Samuelsson, 32, recorded 40 points (19-21-40) in 81 games last season and 10 points (5-5-10) in 23 playoff games with Detroit through to the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals. In 466 career NHL games Samuelsson has 208 points (86-122-208) and 244 penalty minutes. The Mariefred, Sweden native was a member of the 2007.08 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings team and has produced a career total of 35 points (13-22-35) in 69 postseason games.

Samuelsson was a member of Team Sweden, winning gold at the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy in 2006, where he recorded four points (1-3-4) in eight games.

The 6’1”, 205-lbs winger was drafted by San Jose 145th overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

[Viper207]

Thank god.

[Anthony19]

In the words of nature boy ric flair........wooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[MrFrost]

Did we give em Lebda free just for taking Samuelsson? If not, can we still?

Thank god. This opens up a LOT of cap space to resign Chelios for 11 years

[Grittzkey]

Good for the Canucks, Sammy is a very underrated player. As a wings fan, i'am actually sad to see him go. He isn't every going to be considered a bruiser by any means, But he's got good size and scores some timely goals. Also, He can get under your skin too, I've noticed that about Sammy's game, He was a much better agitator this year then Maltby was, and Maltby is known for his agitating skills. regardless I wish Sammy the best of luck.

[UKRedWing]

Even if we havnt signed any toughness, we're at least offloading some softness. Hudler to go next!

[Colt Seavers]

He's good for 20-30 goals has the ability to play on one of the Canucks powerplay squads. He has his sloppy turnover moments, with passing puck being one of his major weaknesses. Missing the net is another. I am glad to see him go though. It was time.

[Redtown]

Get ready to hear this a lot Canuck fans;

Shot by Samuelsson misses the net,

Shot by Samuelsson hits the glass,,

Shot by Samuelsson goes wide.

Potentially the softest of all the Wings as he stepped right in to fill that role when Robert Lang was shown the door.

[SnowballIsChamp]

nice. But this still won't help the Wings get tough.

[SnowballIsChamp]

Originally Posted by Redtown

Potentially the softest of all the Wings as he stepped right in to fill that role when Robert Lang was shown the door.

Now don't get me wrong I dislike Samuelsson with a passion but he was far from the softest Wing and was starting/joining scrums all the time. He was a ***** and wouldn't drop the gloves but he was far from the softest Wing.

[Redtown]

Originally Posted by SnowballIsChamp

Now don't get me wrong I dislike Samuelsson with a passion but he was far from the softest Wing and was starting/joining scrums all the time. He was a ***** and wouldn't drop the gloves but he was far from the softest Wing.

Who was softer?

Anyone can start/join a scrum with 4 zebras around.

[detroit4life]

Originally Posted by Redtown

Who was softer?

Anyone can start/join a scrum with 4 zebras around.

Easily Filppula and/or Hudler. I think Samuelsson threw more hits than both of them combined.

[Colt Seavers]

Originally Posted by Redtown

Who was softer?

Anyone can start/join a scrum with 4 zebras around.

That's just it. Anyone can exude confidence and join in AFTER the party has started. Sammy always jumped in during the scrum, in between the 2 original intiating players and with the linesman. If he wasn't, he was limited to facewashing and yapping. But again, this description fits almost the entire team, excluding McCarty, Downey, and Ericsson!

What Sammy does is he leaves a gap-Detroit is missing a top 6 forward with 20 g potential.

[Redtown]

Originally Posted by detroit4life

Easily Filppula and/or Hudler. I think Samuelsson threw more hits than both of them combined.

I wouldnt put Saumelsson and "hits" in the same sentence as those were merely low speed shoulder bumps.

I give the softest edge to Samuelsson over those two because of Samuelsson's size advantage over them.

[stevecanuck16]

Softness aside, as I believe that won't be as much of an issue on a much tougher squad than the Wings, what can we expect player-wise from Mikael? Either way, $2mill for 20-30 goals seems like a bargain.