Vancouver Canucks acquire veteran forward from Toronto Maple Leafs

The 28-year-old split the 2022-23 season with the Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs. He started the season in Chicago, notching 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in 51 games before being dealt to the Maple Leafs along with defenseman Jake McCabe at the trade deadline. While with the Leafs, Lafferty compiled six points in 19 games; he added three points in nine Stanley Cup Playoff contests.

Lafferty was initially drafted in the fourth round, No. 113 overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Prior to turning pro, he spent four years in the NCAA with Brown University, collecting 29 goals and 50 assists for 79 points in 124 games. During the 2017-17 and 2017-18 seasons, Lafferty was named to the All-Ivy Second All-Star Team.

He made his pro debut with the Penguins AHL affiliate, the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins, in 2017-18. Lafferty made his NHL debut in 2019-20, where he tallied 13 points in 50 games. Following his tenure in Pittsburgh, the Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania product signed a two-year, $2.3 million contract that runs through the 2023-24 season. The contract has an average annual value of $1.15 million. Throughout his career, Lafferty has tallied 23 goals and 36 assists for 59 points in 210 games with the Maple Leafs, Blackhawks and Penguins.

The Canucks will open up their 2023-24 season on Oct. 11 against the Edmonton Oilers.