The Vancouver Canucks have signed forward Derek Dorsett to a four-year contract extension and defenseman Luca Sbisa to a three-year extension.
Dorsett’s new deal is reportedly worth $2.65 million annually, while Sbisa’s cap hit is reportedly $3.6 million.
“Derek has been an incredibly valuable member of the Canucks roster, both on and off the ice this year,” said Canucks GM Jim Benning in a release. “His willingness to chip in both offensively and defensively while standing up for his teammates at all times has been instrumental to our success all season.”
On Sbisa, Benning said: “Luca has been a big part of our backend all season, logging big minutes during key stretches and doing anything that is asked of him by our coaching staff.”
Initial reaction:
--- That’s a big commitment to keep a bottom-six forward like Dorsett, no matter how much he sticks up for his teammates. That being said, there’s no question the 28-year-old has made an impact since being traded by the Rangers to Vancouver in June. He’s fought 17 times, leads the team in hits (163), and has chipped in offensively with seven goals and 18 assists.
--- Sbisa came to Vancouver in the Ryan Kesler trade with Anaheim. At the time, Benning saw Sbisa as a “guy that we feel can grow into a top-four defenseman.” Safe to say, the jury’s still out on the 25-year-old. Sbisa, the 19th overall pick in 2008, is a physical defender, and the Canucks like that about him, but he’s also been on the ice for a lot of goals against.
Sbisa, Dorsett did not get no-trade clauses. #Canucks
— Ben Kuzma 🇺🇦 (@benkuzma) April 8, 2015
