Canucks re-sign – The Vancouver Canucks have signed defenceman Cole Clayton to a one-year, two-way contract extension, keeping him within their system as he continues building his game in the AHL and eyes his next NHL opportunity.
For a player like Cole Clayton, the goal is simple: stay ready, stay close, and earn the call. On Tuesday, the Vancouver Canucks took a clear step toward that future by signing the 26-year-old defenceman to a one-year, two-way contract extension.
Clayton’s most recent season came in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks. He played 32 games, posting six assists (0-6-6) while also collecting 27 penalty minutes and finishing with a minus-four rating.
Before he joined Abbotsford. Clayton suited up for 33 games with the San Jose Barracuda. producing five points made up of two goals and three assists. along with 21 penalty minutes. It’s a steady trail through the league rather than a sudden leap. the kind of path teams keep an eye on when they want reliable depth they can develop.
He’s already spent five seasons in the AHL. appearing in 289 career games across the Abbotsford Canucks. the Barracuda. and the Cleveland Monsters. Over that span, Clayton has amassed 72 points, including 14 goals and 58 assists, plus 189 penalty minutes. His 2023-24 season with Cleveland stands out: he recorded a career-high five goals and 20 points in 59 games while posting a +4 rating.
The contract extension also connects back to how Clayton got here in the first place. He was originally signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets as an undrafted free agent in 2024 after four WHL seasons with the Medicine Hat Tigers. With Medicine Hat, he finished with 17 goals and 70 assists for 87 points in 210 games.
Even earlier, Clayton showed the kind of production that tends to turn heads. In the 2020-21 WHL season, he led all defencemen with nine goals and 30 points across 23 games, ending with a +4 rating.
Financially, his current NHL contract carries $850,000 at the NHL level and $275,000 in the AHL, according to PuckPedia. After the 2026-27 season, Clayton remains a restricted free agent.
The Canucks’ decision to bring him back for one more year reads like a practical vote of confidence in their organizational depth. Clayton’s numbers come from the grind—AHL games. penalty minutes. and seasons spent finding consistency—and this extension keeps that work firmly in motion as he continues chasing the next step.
Vancouver Canucks Cole Clayton NHL AHL Abbotsford Canucks San Jose Barracuda Cleveland Monsters contract extension two-way deal restricted free agent