Vancouver Canucks claim defenseman Cameron Crotty off waivers from Minnesota Wild

The Vancouver Canucks added defensive depth on Tuesday by claiming 27-year-old defenseman Cameron Crotty off waivers from the Minnesota Wild. The transaction marks another chapter in a whirlwind couple of weeks for the Ottawa native, who was previously claimed by Minnesota from the Ottawa Senators on October 29 before being placed back on waivers by the Wild.

Crotty brings considerable size to the blue line at 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds. Known primarily as a stay-at-home defenseman, he has logged 11 career games of NHL experience across stints with the Arizona Coyotes, Senators, and Wild, while spending the vast majority of his professional career in the American Hockey League. He also served as captain of the Iowa Wild during the 2024-25 season.

To clear a roster spot for Crotty, the Canucks reassigned young defenseman Victor Mancini to the Abbotsford Canucks. Mancini, 24, has struggled to find consistent footing at the NHL level this season, appearing in only eight of Vancouver's first 20 games and averaging limited ice time. General Manager Ryan Johnson and the coaching staff hope the demotion will allow the Michigan native to regain his form before reaching the threshold of 63 career NHL games that would require waivers for future assignments.

In a corresponding roster adjustment, Vancouver also placed forward Akil Thomas on waivers for the purpose of assignment to the AHL. Thomas, a 26-year-old former World Juniors standout who signed with the Canucks in free agency on July 1, is returning from an injury and has yet to appear in a regular-season game for the team.

The defensive shake-up for Vancouver arrives as the club looks for a spark following a difficult stretch on the ice. The defensive coaching staff has heavily relied on key players like Filip Hronek, who logged a career-high 31:11 of ice time in a recent game, demonstrating an urgent need for stability and fresh legs on the back end.

Meanwhile, Crotty's former club, the Minnesota Wild, continues to navigate its own roster management. Along with exposing Crotty to waivers, Minnesota also placed veteran forward Tyler Pitlick on waivers at the start of the week. Pitlick subsequently cleared waivers on Tuesday, making him eligible to join the Iowa Wild.

As the Canucks prepare for their upcoming schedule, management hopes the addition of a physical presence like Crotty will help steady a defensive corps trying to turn around a challenging run of games.