There have been multiple changes to the Vancouver Canucks since the end of their 2025-26 NHL season, which saw them finish at the bottom of the Western Conference Standings and nowhere close to achieving a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
They’ve brought back several former players in leadership positions, including Ryan Johnson as general manager, Daniel and Henrik Sedin in executive positions, and Manny Malhotra as head coach.
And now, they’re bringing back another familiar face who will play on next season’s club. According to multiple reports, the Canucks are signing defenseman Luke Schenn on a one-year contract, with a salary cap hit of $2.25 million.
Schenn, who previously played for the Canucks from 2021 to 2023, split last season between the struggling Winnipeg Jets and the Buffalo Sabres, and heads back to familiar territory where he previously played.
Luke Schenn Is Back With The Vancouver Canucks For The Second Time In His Career
Schenn is back with the Canucks for the second time in his career, and according to Johnson, it is his familiarity and leadership skills that will pay off for the club in the coming season as they look to rebound from a low-point in 2025-26.
“Bringing Luke back to Vancouver is an important move for our club,” said Johnson. “Not only is he familiar with our market, but Luke is a veteran leader who can help some of our younger players learn and grow. His experience, voice and popularity in the dressing room will help us set the proper tone for the upcoming season.”
Schenn was taken by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round (eighth overall pick) in the 2008 NHL Draft.
Last season, Schenn played for two different clubs, beginning the year with the Winnipeg Jets, where he appeared in 46 contests and produced seven total points (one goal, six assists) along with 32 penalty minutes.
He was later moved to the Buffalo Sabres at the NHL Trade Deadline with the Jets falling out of the postseason race, adding four more games and 11 penalty minutes to his season totals.
But he wasn’t utilized much by the Sabres during their run to the Eastern Conference Semifinal, which ended in a seven-game loss to the rival Montreal Canadiens.
The defenseman has played a total of 18 seasons in the NHL and 1,122 regular-season games.
So far in his career, he’s suited up for Toronto, the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks, Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators, Jets, and Sabres, and he’s scored 45 goals with 167 assists while accumulating 895 penalty minutes.
Schenn has also appeared in 60 Stanley Cup Playoff games, contributing eight points (three goals, five assists) while accumulating 65 penalty minutes.
He’s also a two-time Stanley Cup winner, having earned championship rings with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021.
The Canucks Also Traded Defenseman Marcus Pettersson To The New York Rangers
The acquisition of Schenn will help offset some of the loss of Marcus Pettersson, whom Johnson traded away to the New York Rangers in return for a conditional first-round pick in 2030 (top-10 protected).
Canucks Officially Bring Back A Former First-Round Pick