Canucks sign trio

The Canucks made their first foray into free agency, inking free agent forwards Brad Isbister, formerly of the New York Rangers and Byron Ritchie of the Calgary Flames to contracts earlier today. More intriguing, perhaps, was their third signing, which did not unvolve an unrestricted free agent. Vancouver successfully signed 2004 first-round draft pick and Boston College goaltending phenom Cory Schneider as well. With Dany Sabourin, who backed up Roberto Luongo (i.e. delivered pizza to the press box) in 2006-07, signing with Pittsburgh on Sunday, Schneider is likely to be given a great chance to serve as Luongo's second-in-command this coming year.