THE CANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks wooed defenceman Jason Garrison home Sunday with a new six-year contract.
The Canucks signed Garrison, who grew up in the oceanside Vancouver-area community of White Rock, B.C., on the first day of NHL free agency.
He joins the Canucks after four seasons with the Panthers organization, where he emerged as a 23-minutes-per-game defenceman.
“We felt quite strongly that he is a player that is evolving and, given our circustances, that he would have an opportunity to continue to evolve,” said Canucks general manager Mike Gillis on a conference call.
The Canucks did not disclose financial terms, but reports suggest his contract will pay him an average of US$4.6 million a season. Gillis indicated Garrison agreed to take less from the Canucks than he could have earned with other clubs.
The GM said the $4.6 million annual was the maximum that the Canucks were willing to pay Garrison.