Canucks add veteran AHL defenseman Jack Thompson on one-year deal
Jack Thompson gives Vancouver a ready-made recall option and gives Abbotsford a right-shot defenseman who can move the puck, run a second unit and steady injuries.
Jack Thompson lands near the top of Vancouver’s call-up ladder because he is already proven at both levels: a 24-year-old right-shot defenseman with 31 NHL games on his résumé and 217 AHL games behind him. The Canucks agreed to terms on June 12 on a one-year, two-way contract, betting that his blend of mobility, offense and experience can help Abbotsford right away and give Vancouver an immediate option if the blue line gets thin.
That is the real value here. Thompson is listed at 6-foot-1 and 189 pounds, and he has shown he can handle more than emergency minutes. He split the 2024-25 season between San Jose and the San Jose Barracuda, finishing with 10 points, four goals and six assists in 31 NHL games. In 2025-26, after Vancouver acquired him from the Sharks on March 5 in exchange for Jett Woo, he produced 13 points in 14 games for Abbotsford, then added 12 points and a plus-13 rating in 42 games with the Barracuda. For a defenseman, that is the kind of production that can translate into second-unit power-play work and situational puck-moving responsibility, not just injury fill-in duty.
Abbotsford gets the more immediate benefit. Thompson arrived and made an instant impression, including one game with a goal and two assists that earned him second-star honors. That kind of quick impact matters in a league where a few stable minutes from the back end can change how a coach manages pairings, special teams and matchups. With 104 career AHL points, including 23 goals and 81 assists, Thompson has already shown he can contribute offense without needing a long adjustment period.
The signing also fits the organizational reset around Vancouver. Ryan Johnson has taken over as general manager, and Manny Malhotra has been named head coach after guiding Abbotsford to a Calder Cup title and then working through an injury-hit follow-up season. In that context, Thompson is more than a depth add. He is a player who knows the system, has already passed through multiple organizations, and has the experience to help Abbotsford hold the line while remaining one phone call from NHL duty. His 11 Calder Cup playoff games and two postseason points only reinforce the point: Thompson is built for teams that need dependable defense first and extra offense when the game opens up.
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