The Vancouver Canucks made their first move in the free agent market, adding winger Mikael Samuelsson with a three-year, $7.5 million deal.
"Obviously that (the money) was the key, I shouldn't lie," Samuelsson said in a telephone conference call Friday after signing a three-year NHL deal with Vancouver.
"They have a good thing going and I think my role can be a little different here."
Samuelsson, 32, recorded 40 points in 81 games last season and 10 points in 23 playoff games with Detroit through to the 2009 Stanley Cup Final.
"I like the team," he said. "When you play against Vancouver it's always a hard game and a skill game too."
"You need some experience (to win the Cup). You need to be hungry. I believe we can do some damage."
In 466 career NHL games, he has 208 points and 244 penalty minutes. The Mariefred, Sweden native was a member of the 2007.08 Stanley Cup Champion team and has produced a career total of 35 points in 69 postseason games.
Samuelsson was a member of Team Sweden, winning gold at the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy in 2006, where he recorded four points in eight games.
The 6'1", 205-pound winger was drafted by San Jose 145th overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
