Strategic Depth Signing
The Vancouver Canucks have officially signed forward Matthew Stienburg to a one-year, two-way contract, general manager Ryan Johnson announced on Thursday. The 25-year-old joins the organization as part of a series of roster moves during the 2026 NHL free agency period.
Under the terms of the deal, Stienburg will earn $850,000 at the NHL level and $160,000 if he plays in the American Hockey League (AHL). The signing is viewed as a strategic move to add depth to the Canucks’ pipeline, particularly for the Abbotsford Canucks.
Path to Vancouver
Stienburg, a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was originally selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the third round (63rd overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft. Before turning professional, he played four seasons at Cornell University, where he recorded 46 points in 73 NCAA games. His professional career has been hindered by injuries; he was limited to just eight games with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles during the 2025-26 season, where he managed three points.
In total, Stienburg has appeared in 71 career AHL games, tallying 20 points and 81 penalty minutes. He also made his NHL debut during the 2024-25 campaign, appearing in eight games for the Avalanche. Given his limited action over the past two years, the Canucks organization is expected to prioritize his conditioning in the AHL, where he will compete for minutes alongside players like Riley Patterson and Ty Mueller.