Canucks add defenceman Cameron Crotty off waivers, send Mancini to Abbotsford

The Canucks have lost 16 of their last 17 games, and their latest answer on the blue line is a 6-foot-3, 212-pound defenceman who captained the Iowa Wild last season. Vancouver announced Tuesday that it added Cameron Crotty, 27, off waivers from the Minnesota Wild, Daily Hive Vancouver reported.

To make room, the Canucks assigned Victor Mancini to the Abbotsford Canucks. Forward Akil Thomas, who is back from injury and signed with Vancouver in free agency on July 1, will also go to Abbotsford provided he clears waivers.

Crotty has 11 NHL games of experience, including three with the Ottawa Senators this season before Minnesota reclaimed him off waivers on Oct. 29. He had not played a game for the Wild when they tried to pass him through waivers Monday. Most of his pro career has been in the AHL, where he has played 332 games since 2020.

The pickup lands as ice time on Vancouver's defence looks lopsided. On Monday, Filip Hronek played a career-high 31:11 while Luke Schenn logged a team-low 8:17.

Mancini, 24, played eight games this season under head coach Manny Malhotra, averaging 12:25 a game. He has 63 career NHL games and is seven games from needing waivers to be sent to Abbotsford.