Jason Garrison joins Hometown club Vancouver Canucks with 6-year, $27.6 million deal -NHL Update
Moving back to British Columbia, Canada, to play for hometown club, Vancouver Canucks, was just too good for Florida Panthers defenseman, Jason Garrison, who signed on to the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise with a six-year, $27.6 million contract
on Monday, July 2, 2012.
Garrison obviously had a number of other teams that would have possibly offered him more money and a longer term deal but Vancouver is just one place he could not deny playing for. At the end, playing is much more than just money and for Garrison that was
exactly how he felt.
"I don't think you should take anything for granted," Garrison said Monday on a conference call. "I really look forward to playing in Vancouver. That's where I'm from, and it's definitely something I'm really excited about, and I can't wait for it to start."
Garrison became an unrestricted free agent on July 1st after the deadline as his two-year, $1.35 million contract came to an end.
With a solid performance these past two seasons, it is easy to see why his new deal is such a major boost from his previous contract which had him making just $675,000 a year while his renewed annual salary cap hit is $4.6 million.
Undrafted and instead, selected by Florida Panthers straight from the University of Minnesota, Garrison is a player that provides extensive defensive depth. Vancouver had been looking for a solid defender this whole time and it seems like they are willing
to put the White Rock native into that position.
Now being able to play for a team that someone watches while their growing up is definitely a unique feeling of its own.
“It was a team that I originally wanted to play for,” Garrison added. “I think the fit was important and the chance of winning. Vancouver has had a winning team for many years and I hope to come and play and just fit myself into the line-up and help the
team win.”
Jason Garrison has a total of 59 points (23 goals, 36 assists) in 190 games played throughout his career along with 81 minutes in the penalty box.
Tags: