The Vancouver Canucks made three minor additions at the end of free agency.
"Minor additions" is quite literal, as the three players they signed are expected to play in the minors for the Abbotsford Canucks, but could be call-ups to the NHL if necessary.
The Canucks signed centre Joseph LaBate, left winger Mackenzie MacEachern, and defenceman Jimmy Schuldt to two-way contracts, with LaBate getting a one-year deal and MacEachern and Schuldt getting two-year deals. All three are veteran AHL players with at least some NHL experience under their belts.
Joseph LaBate: 1 year, $775,000 AAV
The 32-year-old LaBate is actually a Canucks draft pick. The Canucks picked LaBate in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and the 6'5" centre appeared in 13 games for the Canucks in the 2016-17 season.
In the years since playing for the Canucks, LaBate has bounced around the AHL and even spent a season in the KHL. This past season, LaBate was in the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, playing 51 games in the AHL with the Cleveland Monsters and six games in the NHL with the Blue Jackets, tallying his first NHL point, an assist.
LaBate is a middle-six centre in the AHL and lacks the footspeed to be an NHL regular, but he has some defensive utility and great size. While his contract is for the league minimum at the NHL level, his AHL salary is $350,000.
Mackenzie MacEachern: 2 years, $775,000 AAV
The 32-year-old MacEachern has the most NHL experience of the three signings, with 123 games, mostly with the St. Louis Blues. In the NHL, MacEachern has played a fourth-line role, but he's a top-six winger in the AHL.
Accordingly, MacEachern's AHL salary is a little bit higher at $575,000, while his NHL salary is at the $775,000 league minimum.
MacEachern will make up for the offence lost when Sammy Blais signed an NHL contract with the Montreal Canadiens. Blais had 40 points in 51 regular season games this past season with Abbotsford; MacEachern had a nearly identical point-per-game average to Blais with 32 points in 40 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds.
MacEachern has a high motor and good size at 6'2". There's a chance he could play NHL games next season, but he'll presumably be behind the likes of Arshdeep Bains and Max Sasson on the depth chart.
Jimmy Schuldt: 2 years, $775,000 AAV
The 30-year-old Jimmy Schuldt has been a solid point producer from the blue line at the AHL level, putting up 129 points across 354 career games. He is also a capable leader, as he was named captain of the San Jose Barracuda this past season.
Schuldt got into eight NHL games with the San Jose Sharks last season and got pretty soundly outshot and outchanced when he was on the ice, so he's not necessarily the best option as a call-up. At the AHL level, however, Schuldt thoroughly tilts the ice: he's been plus-22 in each of his last three AHL seasons.
Fortunately for the Canucks, they likely won't need Schuldt as a call-up, and he can focus on being effective for the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL. He can replace any offence lost if Christian Wolanin does not re-sign and can provide veteran leadership for the Canucks' young prospects.
