{"id":368598,"date":"2025-12-21T23:34:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T23:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/368598\/"},"modified":"2025-12-21T23:34:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T23:34:11","slug":"former-vancouver-canucks-forward-has-contract-suddenly-terminated-despite-solid-2025-26-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/368598\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Vancouver Canucks forward has contract suddenly terminated despite solid 2025-26 campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Ryan<\/p>\n

Photo credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-Imagn Images.<\/p>\n

A former Vancouver Canucks forward became a free agent on Saturday after being released from his contract overseas despite a solid 2025-26 season thus far.<\/p>\n

Over the summer, we also saw a handful of former Vancouver Canucks decide to remain overseas rather than pursue a return to North America, including forward Ryan Spooner<\/a>, a former second round pick of the Boston Bruins who inked a one-year deal with the KHL’s Shanghai Dragons.<\/p>\n

“The Shanghai Dragons continue to unveil their newest additions. One-year contracts have been signed with goaltender Andrei Kareyev, defenseman Doyle Somerby and forwards Ryan Spooner, Nikita Popugayev and Nick Merkley.” the Dragons said on X in mid-August.<\/p>\n

Former Vancouver Canucks forward becomes free agent after being released from contract overseas<\/p>\n

In a press release on the KHL’s website<\/a> on Saturday, it was announced that the Shanghai Dragons and former Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Spooner agreed to mutually terminate his contract, making him a free agent.Note: the following is translated from Russian.<\/p>\n

“The Shanghai Dragons and forward Ryan Spooner have mutually terminated their contract.” The KHL said.<\/p>\n

The decision for Spooner and the Shanghai Dragons to part ways is a bit strange, especially after the strong start the Ottawa, Ontario native had to the 2025-26 season, with 20 points in 31 games, including an assist in Friday’s 4-2 loss to Lada Togliatti.<\/p>\n

One potential reason for the mutual contract termination could be that Ryan Spooner is in talks to move to a different club in Europe, which if that’s the case, we should find out pretty soon where he’ll land next.<\/p>\n

Spooner, 33, appeared in 11 games with the Vancouver Canucks during the 2018-19 season, picking up four assists, after being traded to them by the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forward Sam Gagner.<\/p>\n

Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily<\/p>\n

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