On July 1st, the Canucks signed 33 year old defenceman, Jamie Oleksiak to a two-year, $10 million deal.You may think that with a contract like that, that the Canucks were bringing in a player that can have high end production from the back end.. However, it wasn’t his point totals that caught Vancouver’s attention, it was the size, physical presence, and character qualities he brings to the team’s culture.

Oleksiak is the middle child of five. Growing up in Toronto, sports were quickly introduced to the family. His father played football and his mother was a competitive swimmer. Jamie says that at a young age he was influenced by his older brothers to play hockey, where he quickly grew dreams of playing in the NHL. Meanwhile, his younger sister, Penny, became a star swimmer and grew up to become Canada’s most decorated Olympian of all time.

Despite their shared athletic success, Jamie says the way they interact has never changed as siblings.

“She’s still my little sister, right? Even now, whenever I see her, I don’t really see her as the big Olympian swimmer. I think we do a good job of putting our jobs aside and just being siblings.”

Jamie’s own dream came true in 2011 when the Dallas Stars selected him 14th overall in the NHL Entry Draft. After a decade in the Stars organization, he was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 Expansion Draft. Standing at an imposing 6’7” and 257 lbs, he was given the nickname “The Big Rig” was once weighed in as the heaviest player in the NHL, earning a reputation as one of the league’s top defensive defencemen.

One of the more valuable skills Jamie brings is his experience both on and off the ice. He’s played nearly 800 NHL games and with his physical presence, it helps give the Canucks young players much needed protection. 

When the Canucks announced the signing, General Manager Ryan Johnson spoke highly of what Oleksiak brings to the room:

“He competes very hard and has grown into a great leader in the dressing room. Adding his size and veteran presence to our backend will help us in many positive ways.”

The Canucks have navigated plenty of ups and downs in recent years, but adding a steady, imposing character like Jamie Oleksiak could be a key piece of the puzzle that they’re trying to rebuild.