Canucks sign Drew O’Connor to two-year extension

On Tuesday, Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin announced that the team has signed forward Drew O’Connor to a two-year contract extension.

The deal, set to kick in next season, will carry an AAV of $2.5 million through the 2026-27 season.

It is a nice little pay bump for O’Connor, who is in the final season of his two-year contract that he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in August 2023, with a cap hit of $925,000.

O’Connor started the season in Pittsburgh, scoring six goals and 16 points in 53 games. However, he was on the move earlier this month, as he and Marcus Pettersson were dealt to the Canucks for Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, prospect Melvin Fernstrom and a first-round pick.

Since then, Allvin has been impressed by what O’Connor has brought to Vancouver.

“Drew has really made a good first impression since joining our team from Pittsburgh at the beginning of the month,” Allvin said in a release. “We like his size, speed and ability to get in on the forecheck and hound pucks. Our staff also feel confident that they can help Drew take his game to another level and we are excited to see what the future holds for him with the Vancouver Canucks.”

O’Connor has just played four games for the Canucks since the trade, posting goals in back-to-back games against the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks in the lead-up to the 4 Nations Face-Off. Overall, the 26-year-old has scored eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 57 games this season.

In 214 career appearances, O’Connor has totaled 32 goals and 36 assists for 68 points.

The Canucks (26-18-11) are fourth in the Pacific Division, three points ahead of the Calgary Flames for the last Wild Card spot in the Pacific Division.