Former Canucks Defenseman and Stanley Cup Champion Leaves North America For the 2025-26 Season
Photo credit: Vancouver Canucks
A former Vancouver Canucks defenseman and former Stanley Cup champion has decided to leave North America for the second time in his professional hockey career.
Friday marks the fourth day of the National Hockey League's free agency window and things have quieted down significantly over the last 24 hours, especially after the Carolina Hurricanes landed the last big fish on the open market - Nikolaj Ehlers.
With NHL opportunities dwindling, some players have already turned their attention to Europe for the next chapter of their respective careers including former Vancouver Canucks goaltender Spencer Martin, who signed a two-year contract with KHL club CSKA Moscow.
One day after Spencer Martin put pen-to-paper on a contract in Russia, another former member of the Vancouver Canucks organization has decided to take his talents overseas and will be suiting up in Germany.
Former Vancouver Canucks defenseman signs contract in Europe for 2025-26 season
In a press release on their team website on Friday, Augsburger Panther of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), the top professional league in Germany, announced that they've agreed to terms on a one-year contract for the 2025-26 season with former Vancouver Canucks defenseman Madison Bowey.
Note: the quotes in this story are translated from German
"The Augsburger Panther have signed another reinforcement for the 2025-26 PENNY DEL season, roughly five weeks before their first official ice practice. Defenseman Madison Bowey is moving to the Fuggerstadt from the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League." the club said.
"The Augsburger Panther have signed another reinforcement for the 2025-26 PENNY DEL season, roughly five weeks before their first official ice practice. Defenseman Madison Bowey is moving to the Fuggerstadt from the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League." the club said.
Bowey, 30, left North America for the first time in 2023 when he headed to the KHL, suiting up for three teams there - Dinamo Minsk, Traktor Chelyabinsk and Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, tallying 14 points in 51 games.
After going unsigned all summer last year, Bowey inked a professional tryout contract (PTO) with the Cleveland Monsters in the American Hockey League, which he then turned into a one-year deal for the 2024-25 season because of his play.
Augsburger Panther Sporting Director Larry Mitchell said that Madison Bowey was someone he was focused on during a scouting trip to North America and believes the Winnipeg native is the missing piece to the team's blue line.
"During my scouting trip, Madison Bowey was one of the players I focused on. Bill Peters and I have been working hard on him over the past few weeks.
We see Madison as the missing piece of the puzzle for our defense, which we desperately wanted to add to with a tough, right-shooting, two-way defenseman.
He's a tall, solid player, yet a good skater who can also contribute offensively. Madison is at his prime for hockey and is excited about his new role with the Panthers under Coach Peters in the German Ice Hockey League," said Sporting Director Larry Mitchell.
We see Madison as the missing piece of the puzzle for our defense, which we desperately wanted to add to with a tough, right-shooting, two-way defenseman.
He's a tall, solid player, yet a good skater who can also contribute offensively. Madison is at his prime for hockey and is excited about his new role with the Panthers under Coach Peters in the German Ice Hockey League," said Sporting Director Larry Mitchell.
Bowey was traded to the Vancouver Canucks by the Chicago Blackhawks in April 2021 and the following season, made two appearances with the big club in the NHL, along with 53 games with AHL Abbotsford where he registered 28 points (eight goals, 20 assists).
Source: Augsburger Panther
Madison Bowey strengthens the Panther defense
Madison Bowey strengthens the Panther defense
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 4 | 855 ANSWERS Former Canucks Defenseman and Stanley Cup Champion Leaves North America For the 2025-26 Season Will Madison Bowey return to North America following the 2025-26 season? | ||
| Yes | 218 | 25.5 % |
| No | 637 | 74.5 % |
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