Canucks sign Vilmer Alriksson to three-year, entry-level deal

The Vancouver Canucks announced Sunday the club agreed to terms with forward Vilmer Alriksson to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Canucks’ General Manager Patrik Allvin says Alriksson had a solid training camp and continues to develop and improve.

“We really like his size, skating ability and skillset and we will continue to monitor his progress and work with him this year to help Vilmer get ready to take another step forward in his hockey career,” Allvin said in a team statement.

The 6-foot-6, 234-pound forward was taken in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old Alriksson spent last season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm, scoring 17 goals and 16 assists for 33 points and 35 penalty minutes in 67 regular-season games.

Before joining the OHL, the Swedish native played 43 games with Djurgardens Jr. in Sweden, scoring 12 goals and nine assists for 21 points.

The Canucks went 50-23-9 with 109 points last season, clinching the Pacific Division title, their first division title since 2012-13. Their 2023-24 record was 26 points better than their 2022-23 campaign, where they went 38-37-7 with 83 points.

Last season, the Canucks made it to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, eventually being eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in seven games.

Forward J.T. Miller finished the season with a team-leading 103 points (37 goals and 66 assists), followed by defenseman Quinn Hughes and his 92 points, including a team-leading 75 assists. Hughes would end up winning the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defender. Team captain Elias Pettersson finished with 34 goals and 55 assists for 89 points.