The Vancouver Canucks signed Cory Schneider, 24, keeping the young-gun goaltender in their arsenal of puck stoppers.
Schneider's contract is a two year, one-way deal at $900K per year.
Vancouver added more youth with the signing of 2009 draft picks Anton Rodin and Peter Andersson, the team announced Wednesday morning.
Schneider gives Vancouver options in the backend if the Canucks number-one man, Roberto Luongo, is not up to snuff next season and if the team doesn't re-sign Andrew Raycroft.
"I don't think it's any stretch to say Roberto is the goaltender that will backstop this team to as great a height as we are going to achieve," said Canucks assistant GM Laurence Gilman.
It's likely Schneider will get more time in the NHL in 2010-11. Luongo will welcome a little lighten load next season. Schneider could play "at least 15 games," Gilman suggested.
"Time will tell what happens with Cory. It is conceivable that at some stage down the road a team will come to us and view Cory as a potential starting goaltender. We will cross that bridge when we come to it," added Gilman.
Schneider played 60 games with the Manitoba Moose in 2009-10 racking up a career record 35 wins. He also posted four shutouts and a .919 save percentage.
Vancouver utilized Schneider's goaltending abilities in two NHL games last season, including an impressive 45-save effort against the Dallas Stars.
In 2008-09 Schneider was named AHL Goalie of the Year posting a 28-10-1 record with the Moose and owning a 2.04 goals against average.
The Marblehead, Massachusetts native led the Moose to a Calder Cup Finals with a playoff record of 14-7-0.
"While he has clearly made tremendous strides, he has yet to establish himself as anything more than a top goaltender at the American League level and a player capable of playing in the NHL," said Gilman. "We feel that this contract will bridge the next portion of his career."
Schneider made his NHL debut on Nov. 29, 2008 against the Calgary Flames and stopped 28 of 31 shots. He played a total of 10 NHL games with the Canucks.
Sweden-born Rodin was selected in the second round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The 19 year-old played in 36 games for Brynas of the Swedish Elite League in 2009-10.
He also represented Swedish at the World Junior Championships collecting 10 points (3-7-10) while at the tournament and finishing in the top ten in scoring.
The young scorer led his team in game-winning goals and helped team Sweden steal a bronze medal.
Fellow Swedish countryman, Andersson is tough defenceman who played with Vastra Frolunda HC Goteborg last season. He accumulated five points (1-4-5) in 21 games.
Andersson was also a member of Sweden's 2010 IIHF World Hockey Championship team, winning a bronze medal.
The Canucks' signings mark the beginning of Vancouver's offseason rebuild.
The team will look to remodel a Canucks team marred by a disappointing second round bow-out to the Chicago Blackhawks.
NHL free agency kickoffs July 1, with the salary cap on the rise, the Canucks will have a little extra cash to add the experienced players the team needs to help develop their young prospects.
With files from Canadian Press.
