The Vancouver Canucks secured Kyle Wellwood's services for next season, as the restricted free agent centre signed his one-year qualifying offer with the club on Tuesday.
The Canucks claimed Wellwood off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs last week.
Last season, Wellwood struggled through an injury-riddled campaign as he dealt with a nagging groin injury. Tabbed as a second-line player with the Maple Leafs out of training camp, the playmaking centre finished with just 21 points in 59 games.
In 2006-07, Wellwood missed 33 games after undergoing surgery to repair a sports hernia.
The Canucks also signed free agent forward Darcy Hordichuk. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Hordichuk, 27, joins the Canucks from Nashville where last season he recorded three points and 60 penalty minutes in 45 games.
In 302 regular season games with Nashville, Florida, Phoenix and Atlanta, Hordichuk has recorded 26 points and 747 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1, 212 lbs. native of Kamsack, Saskatchewan, was originally selected in the 6th round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Thrashers.
