It’s NCAA and European free agent signing season.
The Canucks have already locked up NCAA winger Aidan McDonough and another option for them to explore is 2020 third-round pick Joni Jurmo out of Finland.
Jurmo’s Liiga season is over. His team missed the playoffs. Jurmo could sign his ELC with the Canucks and come join Abbotsford for a playoff run. It’s up to the two sides to see if they can make it work. We’ve heard Jurmo wants to come to North America but with contract numbers, it may have to wait another year.
It would be great for Aatu Räty to have another Finn on the AHL roster. Räty and Jurmo were teammates on Jukurit for the 2021-22 season. Räty finished his 2021-22 Liiga season off by coming over to the AHL and joining the Bridgeport Islanders for the 2021-22 AHL playoffs. Jurmo could possibly do the the same but Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie & Dhali reported that the agent has not started to have conversations with the Canucks about a contract.
“[Jurmo] has an ankle injury and he’s expected to be out another week — it’s inflammation,” said Dhaliwal. “No talks with his agent about a contract yet.”
The Canucks have until June 1st, 2024 before they lose Jurmo’s signing rights. At that point, Jurmo will be free to sign with any NHL organization he chooses.
Jurmo finished his third Liiga season with a career-high five goals and eight assists through 52 games.
There’s good size there, as Jurmo is 6’4″, and he skates at a high level. If he can figure out the transition to the North American game, we don’t believe he would look out of place in the AHL. Jurmo competed with Finland at the 2022 World Junior Championships and showed some good ability on the backend when it came to breaking out pucks.
It may take another year of development in Finland but the option is still there to sign Jurmo right now, push that contract to July 1st and have him sign an ATO with the Abbotsford Canucks and join his pal Räty for an AHL playoff run.
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