Vancouver Canucks sign college free agent Marc Michaelis to one-year deal

by Nathan Caddell on March 19th, 2020 at 4:15 PM

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They might not be playing any games, but that hasn’t stopped the Vancouver Canucks from making some news.

With rumours swirling about the team signing Swedish forward Mathias Bromé, Canucks general manager Benning went for a different forward option, inking Minnesota State University captain Marc Michaelis.

The Manheim, Germany native is listed as a 5’11, 187-pound left wing/centre by Elite Prospects, and just yesterday was named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s Player of the Year.

Michaelis’s stats over the last couple years seem to indicate that he’s been steadily improving and that he’s ready for a new challenge.

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The 24-year-old has also played for Team Germany on more than one occasion, and most recently represented the nation at the 2019 World Championships in Slovakia, scoring two goals in six games.

“Marc has exceptional offensive instincts and proven leadership. We look forward to adding his skill and play-making ability to the franchise,” said Benning in a statement.

Where Michaelis fits in with the Canucks is another matter entirely. Obviously, unless he has a fantastic training camp the odds are that the German will start the season with Utica of the AHL. But if he performs well there and injuries hit the Canucks as they always do, we might get a chance to see what he can do at the highest level.

It’s clear that, at the very least, he’s outgrown the collegiate circuit. This seems like a good gamble by the Canucks’ general manager, as we all know the team could use some cheap, younger forwards at the bottom end of the depth chart.

Benning also said that the team had their eye on another college free agent, but didn’t indicate whether it was Bromé.