Two Calder Cup Champions Signed by Canucks

by Mark Caswell, Jr.

Jul 1, 2016

Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that the Canucks have signed forwards Michael Chaput and Borna Rendulic as well as defenseman Chad Billins each to a one-year, two-way contract. In addition, Benning also announced that the club has signed forward Jayson Megna to a one-year, one-way contract that will carry a value of $600,000.

Chaput, 24, split the 2015-16 season between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the American Hockey League’s Lake Erie Monsters. In eight games with Columbus, Chaput posted a goal and an assist (1-1-2) along with five penalty minutes. In 63 games with Lake Erie, he finished second on the team in scoring with 45 points (16-29-45) along with 31 penalty minutes. Chaput also collected eight points (2-6-8) along with 13 penalty minutes in 17 playoff games to help the Monsters capture their first Calder Cup Championship. The Ile Bizard, Quebec native has registered eight points (2-6-8) and 28 penalty minutes in 58 career NHL games, all with the Blue Jackets.

Chaput was originally selected by Philadelphia in the third round, 89th overall, at the 2010 NHL Draft.

Billins, 27, scored 31 points (7-24-31) with Linkopings HC of the Swedish Hockey League during the 2015-16 season. A native of Marysville, Michigan, Billins has played 10 career NHL games with Calgary and has recorded three assists (0-3-3). In 141 career AHL games split with the Abbotsford Heat and Grand Rapids Griffins, Billins has registered 79 points (20-59-79) and was a Calder Cup Champion with Grand Rapids in 2013.

The 5-10, 175-pound defenseman was originally signed by Calgary as a free agent on July 5, 2013.

Rendulic, 24, split the 2015-16 season between the Colorado Avalanche and the AHL San Antonio Rampage. He appeared in three games with Colorado and 68 games with San Antonio, where he registered 38 points (16-22-38) and 41 penalty minutes. Among Rampage skaters, his 16 goals ranked second while his 22 assists and 38 points ranked him fifth. The 6-2, 200-pound forward has appeared in 14 NHL regular season games over parts of two seasons with Colorado, collecting a goal and an assist (1-1-2) along with six penalty minutes.

A native of Zagreb, Croatia, Rendulic was the first player born in Croatia to sign a contract with an NHL franchise when he was signed by Colorado as a free agent on May 19, 2014.

Megna, 26, split the 2015-16 season between the New York Rangers and the AHL Hartford Wolf Pack. In six games with the Rangers, Megna tallied one goal and one assist (1-1-2) along with two penalty minutes. In 68 games with Hartford, he finished tied for third on the team in goals (15), tied for first in assists (29) and second in points (44). His totals on the year in games played, assists and points were all AHL career-highs.

The 6-1, 195-pound forward has skated in 54 career NHL games over parts of three seasons split between New York and Pittsburgh, registering 12 points (6-6-12) along with 22 penalty minutes. In addition, Megna has appeared in two career NHL playoff games.

Prior to his professional career, Megna played one season with the University of Nebraska-Omaha. During his freshman season in 2011.12, Megna was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team and finished third on the team in goals (13), assists (18) and points (31).