The Vancouver Canucks have signed forward Yan-Pavel Laplante to a three-year entry-level contract, as announced by the team on Monday afternoon.
Three years after being drafted in the third round by the Phoenix Coyotes, the 21-year-old forward is leaving the Arizona Coyotes organization to come to Vancouver. The 62nd-overall selection of the 2013 draft has just finished his overage season with the QMJHL Gatineau Olympiques, recording 34 goals and 65 points in 63 regular season games. He also recorded 88 minutes of penalty this past season.
At 6-foot-0 and 183 pounds, the left wing–and-center hybrid projects as a grinder who plays above his weight class, with potential bottom-six checking upside in the NHL.