Canucks Make Big Moves

September 30, 1999 / 7:56 PM EDT / CBS/AP

The Vancouver Canucks tried to patch up their tattered defense Thursday by coming to terms with restricted free agent Ed Jovanovski on a four-year, $9.2 million contract.

The Canucks also signed free agent defenseman Greg Hawgood.

Vancouver also claimed goaltender Manny Legace off waivers and sent center Matt Cooke to the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League.

Jovanovski, 23, picked first overall by Florida in the 1994 NHL draft, came to the Canucks last year along with goaltender Kevin Weekes in the Pavel Bure trade. The six-foot-two, 210-pound Windsor, Ont., native had two goals and nine assists in 31 games with the Canucks.

Hawgood, 31, played with the Houston Aeros of the International Hockey League. The five-foot-10, 190-pound Edmonton native has played nine NHL seasons with six different teams. His one-year deal is believed to be worth $450,000.

Legace was in the Detroit system last year. He played 17 games in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings and had a 2.60 goals-against average.