Canucks Snatch Former First-Round Pick Defenseman With Free Agency Signing

The Vancouver Canucks have padded their defence corps by adding blue-liner Pierre-Olivier Joseph, signing him to a one-year, $775,000 contract, which was announced on Wednesday.

Joseph, age 26, split last season between the St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins, contributing three assists in 47 games, but not scoring any goals.

The Laval, Que., native was originally selected in the first round, with the 23rd overall pick by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2017 NHL Draft. He didn't break into the league with the Penguins until the 2020-21 season.

He has since appeared in 194 games, compiling eight goals and 32 assists for a total of 40 points.

Joseph spent his pre-draft seasons with the Charlottetown Islanders of the QMJHL. He got off to a slow start in 2015-16, recording just eight points through 48 games. As a bigger defenceman, a lot of Joseph's game relies on solid two-way production.

This game of his was on full display in his draft year, where he totaled 39 points through 62 games.

Since 2020-21, Joseph has bounced around consistently between the AHL and NHL. He failed to show growth through his first four seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Due to a poor 2023-24 season, he left and signed with the St. Louis Blues for one year. Unfortunately, this change didn't help much, and Joseph was moved back to Pittsburgh, where he continued to struggle.

Now that he is on this one-year deal, Joseph is likely on his last chance to establish himself on an NHL roster.

At 25 years old, he will have to show significant improvements in his two-way game to live up to his first-round pick potential, but the Canucks appear to be willing to give him this one final shot.