Canucks ink Swedish D-man Philip Holm to 1-year deal

The Vancouver Canucks have bolstered their depth on the back end by signing 25-year-old Philip Holm to a one-year, entry-level contract, the team announced.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound defenseman registered a career-high 21 points in 52 games with Vaxjo HC of the Swedish Hockey League. Holm was also a member of Sweden's gold-medal-winning squad at the 2017 World Championship, suiting up for seven games and recording three points (one goal, two assists).

"Philip is a mobile, two-way defenseman who adds depth to our blue line," said Canucks general manager Jim Benning. "He made strides in his development last season with Vaxjo and played a strong series with Sweden at the World Championships. We're pleased to welcome him to the Canucks organization."

Benning's reference to Holm being a strong two-way defenseman is no joke. He led the entire SHL with a plus/minus rating of plus-24 while logging 18:49 per night.