Canucks Hand AHL Captain Chase Wouters His First NHL Deal After Six Seasons

Chase Wouters has been grinding in the AHL for six seasons, wearing the captain’s C for the Abbotsford Canucks and racking up over 300 games. Now he finally gets his foot in the NHL door.

Vancouver signed Wouters to a one-year, two-way contract Wednesday for the 2026-27 season. It’s his first NHL contract after spending his entire pro career on AHL deals with the Canucks organization. The 26-year-old center from Lloydminster, Alberta, went undrafted after his WHL days with Saskatoon, but he kept showing up and earning trust.

The deal pays $850,000 at the NHL level and $425,000 in the AHL, per PuckPedia. That’s not life-changing money in NHL terms, but for a guy who had to claw his way up through minor league deals, it’s a serious step.

From WHL Captain to AHL Leader

Wouters spent five seasons with the Saskatoon Blades, putting up 181 points in 280 regular-season games. He wore the C for three of those years. But his real reputation was built in Abbotsford. He was named team captain for the Canucks’ AHL affiliate in 2022 and has held the role for four straight seasons.

In 338 AHL games, he’s posted 43 goals, 77 assists, and 120 points. He also plays with an edge — 316 penalty minutes. Those numbers put him tied for sixth in franchise history in goals, fourth in assists, and fifth in points. Not bad for a guy nobody drafted.

His 2025 Calder Cup run cemented his value. Wouters played all 24 playoff games during Abbotsford’s championship push, scoring two goals and adding three assists. He’s now played 38 career playoff games with the club. In the 2025-26 regular season, he had 11 goals and 26 points in 70 games while keeping the captaincy.

He’s Never Played Outside the Canucks System

Wouters has been all-in with Vancouver since he signed as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He joined Abbotsford during their inaugural AHL season and never left. That kind of loyalty runs both ways. General manager Ryan Johnson has been busy — this is the third roster move in five days — but giving Wouters a chance at the NHL level feels earned.

At 6-foot and 190 pounds, he’s a right-shot center who kills penalties, plays physical, and knows the system inside out. Whether he cracks the Canucks lineup or spends most of next season back in Abbotsford, the door is finally open. And after six years of waiting, that’s a massive win.