[Signing] Canucks re-sign Sheldon Dries, Guillaume Brisebois, John Stevens

[-Vintage Canuck-]

 

Details:

 

Vancouver, B.C. - Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the club has re-signed forward Sheldon Dries, defenceman Guillaume Brisebois, and forward John Stevens to new two-way contracts. 

 

Dries, 28, has agreed to terms on a two-year, two-way deal. He registered three points (2-1-3) in 11 games at the NHL level with Vancouver last season, appearing in the team's final nine games of the regular season. In 59 career NHL games split between Vancouver and Colorado, Dries has collected nine points (5-4-9) and 30 penalty minutes. 

 

The 5'9", 180-pound centre also skated in 54 regular season games with the American Hockey League's Abbotsford Canucks, totalling a career-high 62 points (35-27-62) and +14 plus/minus differential. A native of Macomb, Michigan, Dries led all Abbotsford skaters in goals (35) in 2021.22 and ranked fourth overall in the AHL. 

 

Brisebois, 24, has agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract. In 26 regular season games with the Abbotsford Canucks last season, he tallied seven points (2-5-7) and logged a +8 plus/minus rating before also adding one assist in two playoff games. 

 

Brisebois has spent his entire professional career in the Canucks organization, after being selected by Vancouver in the third round, 66th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. The 6'2", 175-pound native of Longueuil, Quebec has appeared in 10 career NHL games with Vancouver and 205 regular season AHL games (13-41-54) with Abbotsford, the Utica Comets, and Laval Rocket. 

 

Stevens, 28, has agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract. The Springfield, Massachusetts native is coming off his sixth AHL season, recording 43 points (19-24-43) and 72 penalty minutes in 68 games with Abbotsford, while setting career-highs in goals (19), assists (24), points (43), and plus/minus (+14), and games played (68 - matched career-high).  

 

The 6'3", 199-pound centre led the entire league in shorthanded goals (6) and ranked third on Abbotsford in goals, fourth in points, and second in penalty minutes in 2021.22. Stevens has accumulated 94 points (41-53-94) and 150 penalty minutes in 233 career AHL games. 

 

https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/canucks-resign-three-players-to-two-way-contracts/c-334755698

[CRAZY_4_NAZZY]

Glad they are holding onto all three. 

 

Keeping your number 1 centre for Abbotsford is going to help bring stability. Stevens was a great presence as a leader for some young players like Lockwood, Wouters, and Klimovich. If Sautner doesn't return, I would say he likely becomes the captain for Abbotsford.

[-AJ-]

Very happy about these three. Stevens seemed pretty good last year and Dries is a great sniper to have in Abby.

[-Vintage Canuck-]

Sheldon Dries' contract details:

 

 

[Where's Wellwood]

I'm surprised Brisebois is only 24 (though he turns 25 in a month)

[-Vintage Canuck-]

John Stevens' contract details:

 

 

[rekker]

Excellent. Was hoping Briesbois would stick around for another shot and I hope he can stay healthy. He has some of that Tanev-calmness to his game. 

[GB5]

Seems like Brisbois has been in the system forever but he has barely played the last two seasons as a result of injury.

 

Happy to see him back though because he has always showed promise and with some healthy playing time there is still time for him to make it as a pro.

 

 

Edited June 27, 2022 by GB5

[-Vintage Canuck-]

Guillaume Brisebois' contract details:

 

 

[Guest]

Can't believe Canucks aren't letting the Avs have their spotlight today by announcing these three signings. 

[DrJockitch]

Dries was pretty impressive at times and am happy to see him back along with Breezy. 

[grandmaster]

This Stevens looks intriguing. Good size and production. Would like to see what he can do. Could be a late bloomer.

[Bell]

Dries gets a hefty contract even he plays in Abby all season.

[King Heffy]

28 minutes ago, rekker said:

Excellent. Was hoping Briesbois would stick around for another shot and I hope he can stay healthy. He has some of that Tanev-calmness to his game. 

I really wanted to see him get an extended look on the third pairing last year.  

[Coconuts]

Good signings all around

[-Vintage Canuck-]

 

[Rabbit]

All the three signings are good for Abby.

[JamesB]

As Dries was one of the top players in the AHL last year and surprisingly good when called up as an injury replacement it was always obvious that the Canucks wanted to bring him back. He is a classic type -- star at the AHL level but not quite good enough offensively to play top 6 in the NHL but too small and without the other attributes you need to play bottom 6 in the NHL. Having turned 28 in late April he has probably hit his peak level of performance but if Abby is going to be a Calder Cup contender he will be an important part of the story and he is a good guy to have around as potential emergency callup, as happened last year. From his point of view,  the AHL part of his two-way deal at $450 K is pretty good and is guaranteed for two years.

 

I was wondering if the Canucks would bring back Brisebois one more time.  It is only a one-year deal so this is probably his last kick at the can. I remember when the Canucks drafted him in the 3rd round in 2015. Benning was taking some criticism for having traded away their 2nd round pick that year but Linden claimed that Brisbois was the guy they would have taken if they had a 2nd round pick.  He is fairly low on the depth chart at LD but let's hope he stays healthy and can take that one more step to get him into the conversation for a spot on the big team.  

 

Stevens is a career AHL player. As far I can find out at age 28 he has never played an NHL game, but he is a good AHL player who brings some size and toughness and good defensive play along with legitimate top 6 scoring (at the AHL level) and excellent PK skills. Wore an "A" last year for Abby. He looks to me like the kind of player who might get an AHL contract but obviously the Canucks think he is good enough to justify an NHL contract. Maybe next year he actually gets into an NHL game. Like Dries, he could be very valuable if Abby is to be a Calder Cup contender.  

 

The big question marks are now Rempal and Juulsen -- both UFAs who were very good in Abby last year. I would like to see them both come back and they would also be important to have a good Abby team next year.  And a lot of people think Juulsen, as a RD and former 1st round pick (26th overall), might still be able to help the big team. At age 25 he might have one more significant step left in his development. Anyway, hoping to see both those guys re-signed. 

Edited June 27, 2022 by JamesB

[N4ZZY]

1 hour ago, Where's Wellwood said:

I'm surprised Brisebois is only 24 (though he turns 25 in a month)

Yeah. Seems like he's been in the Canucks' system forever. I thought by now he would've broken through, but at this stage, looks like he's a depth player for the organization. 

 

[N4ZZY]

5 minutes ago, JamesB said:

As Dries was one of the top players in the AHL last year and surprisingly good when called up as an injury replacement it was always obvious that the Canucks wanted to bring him back. He is a classic type -- star at the AHL level but not quite good enough offensively to play top 6 in the NHL but too small and without the other attributes you need to play bottom 6 in the NHL. Having turned 28 in late April he has probably hit his peak level of performance but if Abby is going to be a Calder Cup contender he will be an important part of the story and he is a good guy to have around as potential emergency callup, as happened last year. From his point of view,  the AHL part of his two-way deal at $450 K is pretty good and is guaranteed for two years.

 

I was wondering if the Canucks would bring back Brisebois one more time.  It is only a one-year deal so this is probably his last kick at the can. I remember when the Canucks drafted him in the 3rd round in 2015. Benning was taking some criticism for having traded away their 2nd round pick that year but Linden claimed that Brisbois was the guy they would have taken if they had a 2nd round pick.  He is fairly low on the depth chart at LD but let's hope he stays healthy and can take that one more step to get him into the conversation for a spot on the big team.  

 

Stevens is a career AHL player. As far I can find out at age 28 he has never played an NHL game, but he is a good AHL player who brings some size and toughness and good defensive play along with legitimate top 6 scoring (at the AHL level) and excellent PK skills. Wore an "A" last year for Abby. He looks to me like the kind of player who might get an AHL contract but obviously the Canucks think he is good enough to justify an NHL contract. Maybe next year he actually gets into an NHL game. Like Dries, he could be very valuable if Abby is to be a Calder Cup contender.  

 

The big question marks are now Rempal and Juulsen -- both UFAs who were very good in Abby last year. I would like to see them both come back and they would also be important to have a good Abby team next year.  And a lot of people think Juulsen, as a RD and former 1st round pick (26th overall), might still be able to help the big team. At age 25 he might have one more significant step left in his development. Anyway, hoping to see both those guys re-signed. 

I'm hopeful about Juulsen making the jump to the big club, and yet at the same time, I'm not convinced he's anymore than a depth piece for the organization. 25 is that age where he he might have something left to prove, but he's also on the verge of just being a journeyman in either league - basically a depth player in the event the club faces injuries.