Vancouver Canucks Sign Latvian Forward Anri Ravinskis to Two-Year Contract
As the NHL offseason gets underway, the Vancouver Canucks are wasting no time making roster moves. On Thursday, May 22, the team officially announced the signing of Latvian forward Anri Ravinskis to a two-year, entry-level contract, continuing their push to bolster organizational depth with international talent.
Ravinskis, 22, recently completed a productive 2024–25 season playing in Finland, where he split time between two professional leagues. He began the campaign with Ketterä in the Mestis league, where he tallied 21 points in just 23 appearances, scoring eight goals and adding 13 assists. Following that strong showing, he was promoted to HPK of Liiga, Finland’s top-tier league, where he posted another solid stat line: 17 points, including eight goals and nine assists, over 27 games.
Vancouver’s General Manager Patrik Allvin praised the signing, emphasizing the team’s commitment to identifying talent overseas. “Anri is a player our staff has tracked closely throughout the year in Finland and also during the recent World Hockey Championships in Sweden,” Allvin said in a team statement. “Targeting European free agents like Anri is an important part of how we build depth within our system. We’re impressed with his size and physical tools, and we’re excited to help him transition into the North American pro style of play.”
Ravinskis, standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 195 pounds, brings both size and skill to the table—an appealing combination for a Canucks team aiming to improve its bottom-six depth and long-term development pipeline. His ability to adapt quickly and perform consistently in two different Finnish leagues caught the eye of the Canucks’ scouting department and helped solidify the team’s decision to bring him aboard.
Prior to his stint in Finland, Ravinskis spent two seasons in Canadian junior hockey with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Over 98 regular-season games, he produced 54 points, including 29 goals and 25 assists, and accrued 39 penalty minutes. In the postseason, he added another four points—one goal and three assists—across 10 games, showcasing his potential in high-stakes environments.
The Latvian winger also brings international experience to the table. Most recently, he represented Latvia at the 2025 IIHF World Hockey Championship, further showcasing his skills on a global stage. In addition to this year’s tournament, Ravinskis has competed in multiple international events throughout his career. These include appearances in the 2022 and 2023 World Junior Hockey Championships, the 2021 Division 1 Group A World Junior Championship, and the 2021 U18 World Championship. His consistent involvement in international play reflects both his talent and Latvia’s confidence in his development as a top-tier player.
With the Canucks continuing to build a more competitive roster under Allvin’s leadership, the signing of Ravinskis reflects a strategic effort to inject youth and versatility into the organization. While the young forward is not expected to immediately jump into the NHL lineup, he will likely begin his North American professional journey in the AHL, where he can get accustomed to the smaller ice surface and faster-paced game. The team hopes that, with time and proper development, Ravinskis can grow into a reliable contributor at the NHL level.
This move adds to a growing list of under-the-radar signings by Vancouver, which has increasingly looked to Europe for skilled, affordable talent. If Ravinskis continues to develop and adapt as expected, the Canucks could have found a valuable piece for the future without giving up any assets.
As Vancouver fans look ahead to the 2025–26 season, Ravinskis’ progress will be one of many storylines to follow. His combination of size, skill, and international experience makes him a player worth watching as he takes the next step in his professional hockey career.
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