Canucks Sign Three

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Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that the Canucks have signed defencemen Nolan Baumgartner and Lawrence Nycholat and forward Matt Pope.

Baumgartner, 33, recorded 33 points (11-22-33) and 50 penalty minutes in 72 games with the Canucks AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose last season. Between 2002-03 and 2005-06 Baumgartner played 87 games with Vancouver scoring six goals and 34 assists (6-34-40). Baumgartner has played for six NHL teams in his career recording 45 points (6-39-45) and 67 penalty minutes in 131 games. The 6’2”, 205-lbs native of Calgary, Alberta was originally drafted by Washington 10th overall, in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft and first signed with Vancouver as a free agent on July 2, 2008.

Nycholat, 30, re-joins the Canucks after finishing the 2008-09 season with the Colorado Avalanche. Originally acquired by trade with Ottawa on September 2, 2008, Nycholat played 14 games with Vancouver during the 2008-09 season. In 50 career NHL games with five teams the defenceman has recorded nine points (2-7-9) and 24 penalty minutes. The 6’0”, 190-lbs Calgary, Alberta native began his NHL career as a free agent, signing with the Minnesota Wild on August 31, 2000.

Pope, 24, played the bulk of the 2008-09 season with Bakersfield of the ECHL and finished the season with the Manitoba Moose after a four-game stint with the Binghamton Senators. Pope recorded 63 points (30-33-63) in 54 games with Bakersfield and played another 12 AHL games with Binghamton and Manitoba recording eight points (4-4-8) and 10 penalty minutes. In 12 postseason contests with the Moose, Pope had six points (3-3-6) and 2 penalty minutes. The 6’1”, 185-lbs forward is a Langley, British Columbia native.

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Didn't they sign Pope a couple of weeks ago?