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Former Vancouver Canucks Forward Signs New Contract After Two-Year Absence From Hockey
Photo credit: NHL
A former Vancouver Canucks forward has put pen-to-paper on a new contract in North America after taking a two-year absence from professional hockey.
In the summer of 2023, Kazah-based KHL club Barys Astana announced that they were mutually terminating the contract of former Vancouver Canucks forward Michael Chaput, just weeks after signing him to a new one-year deal.
"#Barys Astana (#KHL) and forward Michael Chaput have mutually cut ties just a few weeks after signing a new 1-year contract." Hockey Worldwide said on Instagram in July 2023.
Since then, Chaput has been a free agent and his future in hockey was a bit unclear until due to injury, but on Thursday, the former Vancouver Canuck was able to find a new team to suit up for ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Former Vancouver Canucks forward Michael Chaput signs new contract after two-year absence
In a social media post this week, National de Quebec, who play in the semi-professional Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH), announced that they've agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Michael Chaput.
National de Quebec General Manager Alexandre Picard was excited with the fact that he was able to land Michael Chaput for the 2025-26 season, calling him a major asset to their organization thanks to his 600+ games of experience at the professional level.
Note: the following is translated from French
"This is a huge announcement for us! I've had the chance to meet Michael recently, and we've discussed the possibility of him joining us! After an injury forced him to take a break in recent years, he's now recovered and excited to try his luck with us for the future! With nearly 200 games in the NHL and 500 in the AHL, he's a major asset to our organization! A great guy I've heard nothing but good things about, both on and off the ice! Welcome, buddy!" Picard said.
Chaput, 33, was signed by the Vancouver Canucks in the summer of 2016 as an unrestricted free agent and he would go on to appear in 77 games with the big club in the NHL and 65 in the AHL before he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for Tanner Kero in June 2018.
It's great to see that Chaput is doing better now and is able to return to hockey, albeit at the semi-professional level, but if all goes well this season and he stays injury-free, it wouldn't be a surprise to anyone if he's able to land an AHL, ECHL or even a European contract for the 2026-27 campaign.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
AOUT 30 | 620 ANSWERS Former Vancouver Canucks Forward Signs New Contract After Two-Year Absence From Hockey Do you think Michael Chaput will be able to land an AHL or ECHL contract after the 2025-26 season? | ||
| Yes | 296 | 47.7 % |
| No | 324 | 52.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
