Vancouver Canucks bring back Akito Hirose on one-year deal

The Vancouver Canucks have signed defenseman Akiro Hirose to a two-year contract.

Hirose’s first season will be a two-way deal at $775,000, with him having a one-way, $800,000 contract for the 2023-24 season.

The 24-year-old blueliner signed with the Vancouver Canucks after Minnesota State University was knocked out of the NCAA season. Hirose had three assists in seven games to close out the NHL season.

After receiving some attention last summer after a solid 26-point campaign, he upped it to 37 points while playing a key role again this season. That decision to go back for a third college season quickly made him one of the better free agent options, and there were a couple teams believed to be in the mix for Hirose’s services once Minnesota State University was eliminated from Frozen Four contention on Thursday.

Hirose’s speed, with and without the puck, is already NHL-level, and the offense has followed him throughout. Players that think and move like Hirose have good careers. He’s someone that could be a valuable, puck-moving defenseman with some second power-play line opportunities.

Akito is the younger brother of Taro Hirose, the Detroit Red Wings prospect that made noise as the most sought-after prospect following his third season at Michigan State in 2018-19. Taro hasn’t managed to carve out a full-time NHL role after a great initial 10-game stint after turning pro, but he has made a solid career out of being a valuable scoring forward with Grand Rapids.

The Canucks have been busy signing defensemen this summer, adding Carson Soucy, Ian Cole and Matt Irwin on deals yesterday. The club has seven defensemen, excluding Hirose, who could start the year with the Abbotsford Canucks this coming season. He could stick fight for full-time duties in his second full pro hockey season after getting some extra seasoning.