Ryan Johnson wastes zero time as second signing arrives out of nowhere

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David St-Jean
June 2, 2026  (7:39 PM)

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Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The Vancouver Canucks announced Tuesday afternoon they've agreed to terms with forward Ilya Safonov on a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-27 season.

The team confirmed the move on X, with general manager Ryan Johnson credited as the executive on the deal under head coach Manny Malhotra's group.

A two-way contract tells you exactly where Safonov fits. He's not penciled into the top six. He's depth, callup insurance, and a roster body the Canucks can shuttle between Vancouver and Abbotsford as needed.

That matters more than usual right now. The Canucks finished 32nd overall at 25-49-8, dead last in the league with a -100 goal differential.

A team that scored 216 goals all season and went 9-27-5 at home doesn't get to be picky about cheap forward depth. Every two-way deal in this market is a small bet, and Vancouver needs a stack of them.

The bottom six was a problem all year. Names like Drew O'Connor and Aatu Raty produced in flashes, but the group as a whole drowned, and the road record of 16-22-3 reflected that.

Adding a two-way forward in early June is the quietest possible start, but it's still a signal.

Elias Pettersson is locked in at $11.6 million. Filip Hronek sits at $7.25 million. Brock Boeser carries $7.25 million on the books too. The big-ticket money is set.

That leaves Johnson chasing value at the margins. A two-way contract for a forward like Safonov costs almost nothing if it doesn't work and creates an internal option if it does.

Is this the move that fixes a team that just lost 1-6 in Edmonton to close the season? Of course not. But every rebuild starts with bets like this one, stacked on top of each other.

The team's official post is below. Worth a look for the wording on the contract structure itself.

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The real question is what comes next. Vancouver still needs a top-nine forward, a defenseman who can eat real minutes, and answers in net that a two-way signing isn't going to provide.

Previously

Joe Sakic's latest decision involving Jared Bednar changes everything after Vegas exit

The Canadiens are preparing a blockbuster trade for an elite center, per Murphy

Canucks book interesting prospect for Thursday dinner at NHL Combine

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1 HOUR AGO   |   51 ANSWERS Ryan Johnson wastes zero time as second signing arrives out of nowhere Is signing Ilya Safonov to a two-way contract a smart use of a roster spot for the Canucks?

▢    Yes

▢    No

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