Canucks sign Abbotsford captain to one-Year contract

The Vancouver Canucks have signed Abbotsford Canucks captain Chase Wouters to a one-year, two-way NHL contract for the 2026-27 season, the team announced on Wednesday. It’s Wouters’ first NHL contract after previously spending his entire professional career on AHL deals with Vancouver’s affiliate.

The 26-year-old was originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 2021 after a five-season WHL career with the Saskatoon Blades. Over 280 regular-season games in Saskatoon, he produced 75 goals and 106 assists for 181 points, along with a +22 rating. He served as team captain for the final three seasons and also wore the “C” during his junior days with the U-15 AAA Lloydminster Heat in 2014-15. In the WHL playoffs, he added 2 goals and 6 points in 10 games.

Since turning pro in 2021 with Abbotsford’s inaugural AHL season, Wouters has become a core leader for the Canucks’ farm team. He was named captain in 2022 and has held that role for four seasons. Across 338 AHL games, the a 6-foot, right-shot center has recorded 43 goals and 77 assists for 120 points, along with 316 penalty minutes. His totals place him tied for sixth in franchise history in goals (43), fourth in assists (77), and fifth in points (120).

Wouters also played a pivotal role in Abbotsford’s 2025 Calder Cup championship run, appearing in all 24 playoff games and finishing with 2 goals and 5 points. Overall, he has skated in 38 career playoff games with the club. In the 2025-26 regular season, he finished with 11 goals and 26 points in 70 games while continuing as team captain.

The new contract carries a salary of $850,000 at the NHL level and $425,000 in the AHL, according to PuckPedia. The signing was part of a busy stretch for Vancouver general manager Ryan Johnson, making it the third roster move in five days. Wouters has spent his entire professional career within the Canucks organization since 2021.

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