Vancouver Canucks' Drew O'Connor skates with the puck by Detroit Red Wings' Dylan Larkin during NHL hockey action in Vancouver, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. The Canucks have signed winger O'Connor to a two-year, US$5-million extension.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER - A big decision loomed over Drew O'Connor's vacation last week.

Like many NHL players, the Vancouver Canucks winger took advantage of a break in the league's schedule. As he headed off to Florida, talks between his agent and Vancouver's front office intensified.

Hours before the Canucks returned to practice Tuesday, the team announced O'Connor had signed a two-year, US$5-million extension. The deal came less than three weeks after Vancouver acquired him from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Getting the business done over the break helped, O'Connor said.

“I think it kind of let me process everything, think everything through," he said. "I didn't want to rush into a decision, obviously, but was super comfortable with my time here thus far. So I think ultimately, the decision kind of became clear towards the end.”

The Canucks picked up the 26-year-old forward on Feb. 1 in a deal that saw Vancouver send a conditional first-round draft pick — acquired earlier in the day from the New York Rangers in exchange for star centre J.T. Miller — and a package of depth players to Pittsburgh in exchange for O'Connor and defenceman Marcus Pettersson.

Pettersson went on to sign a six-year, $33-million extension with the Canucks five days later.

O'Connor played just four games for Vancouver before inking the extension — and scored twice, including on a penalty shot in overtime that gave his new team a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 6.

"Drew has really made a good first impression since joining our team from Pittsburgh at the beginning of the month,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said in a release. “We like his size, speed and ability to get in on the forecheck and hound pucks."

Vancouver's head coach Rick Tocchet has moved O'Connor up and down the lineup, trying him first with centre Pius Suter and winger Kiefer Sherwood before using him alongside centre Filip Chytil and sniper Brock Boeser.

“I'm definitely appreciative of the opportunity I've got so far here, playing with some really good players, obviously," O'Connor said.

"And I just like the way we play a lot. I like the way (Tocchet) runs the team, and the coaching staff runs the team. It's a fun way to play. They want us skating with the puck, doing things like that. And I've enjoyed that part of it. So hockey wise, it's been a great fit, I think.”

The six-foot-four, 209-pound winger from Chatham, N.J., has eight goals and 10 assists across 57 games between Vancouver and Pittsburgh this season.

He put up career-highs in goals (16), assists (17) and points (33) points for Pittsburgh during the 2023-24 campaign, and has 32 goals and 36 assists over 214 career NHL regular-season games.

"Our staff also feel confident that they can help Drew take his game to another level and we are excited to see what the future holds for him with the Vancouver Canucks," Allvin said.

O'Connor, too, believes he has room to grow.

“I think I'm capable of more than I've shown this season thus far. Especially offensively, I think I can contribute more," he said.

"So I'm kind of eager to prove that I have that next level to my game. And I'm confident that with the staff here, with the group here, that I'll be able to get to that level.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2025.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2025