Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning officially announced that both Ronalds Kenins and Alex Friesen will stay with the team.
Before boarding his flight to Las Vegas for the NHL general manager meetings, the former ice hockey defenceman said that Kenins has gained a spot in the club for a full-time role in the NHL.
The winger was given a one-year, one-way deal worth just above the NHL minimum of $575,000.
“Last year, he came up and in his first three weeks he was real good,” Benning said. “He gave us a physical presence, he was getting in on the forecheck and got some points.
“He got back to playing the way he is capable of and was good down the stretch,” the 52-year-old Canadian added. “We feel he is ready to be a full-time NHL player and we are looking forward to him being part of our group and our team next year.”
Kenins, who played for the Latvia's national team at the 2014 Winter Olympics, has recorded four goals, and 12 points in his 30 games with the Canucks last season. He started the 2014-15 campaign in the Utica Comets before being called up midway through the season to made his NHL debut in January.
The Vancouver-based team also signed restricted free agent forward Alex Friesen. His contract includes a salary of $575,000 in two-year, two-way deal. Friesen had played for Utica last season, scoring 10 goals and 30 points in 60 games. He was drafted as the 172nd overall pick by the Canucks in 2010.
“He was one of our culture guys down there,” Benning referred to Friesen. “Every given night he works hard, he competes. He’s not a big player, but he competes hard for his size, plays physical. He is one of the guys going forward we want our young players to be associated with. And the other part of it is he can be a depth guy for us next year. If we need someone to give us games and energy he is ready for that.”
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