HOLM COMING
Swedish blue-liner to join Canucks
Like other seasons, there is genuine opportunity for a newcomer to make an impression on the back end for the Vancouver Canucks next fall.
But this one is different. That’s how the National Hockey League club sold Swedish defenceman Philip Holm, 25, on a oneyear, two-way contract Friday that pays US$925,000 in the bigs and $70,000 in the minors.
With Nikita Tryamkin bolting to the KHL, restricted free agent Erik Gudbranson coming off wrist surgery and the possibility of losing Luca Sbisa to the Las Vegas Golden Knights next month in the expansion draft, general manager Jim Benning beat the Chicago Blackhawks and other suitors to acquire the two-way defenceman, who can also jump up into the play.
“He sees the opportunity with us,” said Benning. “A couple of months ago, I thought we had depth on defence. He gives us that. He led the Swedish league in plusminus this year and we feel like he’s a player who’s close or ready to play at the NHL level. We’re excited because there were a bunch of teams in on him.”
Holm competed for the goldmedal winning Swedes at the recent world championship and has been on the Canucks’ radar all season. The six-foot-two, 194-pound left-shot blue-liner had four goals and 17 assists in 52 games for VaxjoHC in the Swedish Hockey League and a goal and two assists in seven world championship appearances.
“He has good mobility to transition the puck, but he’s not a point producer,” added Benning. “He had a goal and two assists against Italy at the worlds when (Oliver) Ekman-Larsson was hurt and didn’t look out of place, but that’s not really his game. But he’s the new-style defenceman. He’s good defensively and on his positioning and he can get back to rush the puck or make that first pass.”
Holm said there was a comfort factor when he talked with Benning and coach Travis Green and that a rebuilding Canucks roster piqued his curiosity about transitioning to the smaller North American ice surface.
“My gut just said Vancouver and that’s what I went with,” Holm told TSN1040. “They told me I’d have a good chance to make the team and, of course, that’s up to me. I’m pretty much a late-bloomer and I’m looking forward to the opportunity . ...
“My goal is to play in the NHL straight away.”