Money ($7.5M) 'the key' to Samuelsson leaving Wings, joining Canucks

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Free-agent forward Mikael Samuelsson signed a $7.5 million, three-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Friday.

"Obviously [the money] was the key, I shouldn't lie," Samuelsson said in a conference call after signing the deal.

The Swedish right wing spent the past four seasons in Detroit, winning the Stanley Cup in 2008 and falling one game short this past season. The 32-year-old forward has 86 goals and 208 points in 466 career NHL games.

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Samuelsson was also part of Sweden's gold medal-winning team at the 2006 Turin Olympics.

He's the third forward to leave the Red Wings this spring. Marian Hossa and Tomas Kopecky signed with the Chicago Blackhawks this week.

Samuelsson believes the Canucks, who signed twin brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin of Sweden to contract extensions this week, can contend for the Stanley Cup.

"I like the team," he said. "When you play against Vancouver it's always a hard game and a skill game too.

"You need some experience [to win the Cup]. You need to be hungry. I believe we can do some damage."