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VANCOUVER - The money was a factor, but what also convinced free-agent forward Mikael Samuelsson to sign with the Vancouver Canucks was the team's potential to be a Stanley Cup contender.

Samuelsson, who won a Cup with the Detroit Red Wings, agreed to a three-year NHL deal worth US$7.5 million on Friday. The six-foot-one, 205-pound right-winger also expects to have an increased offensive role with the Canucks.

"It was a bunch of reasons, not only good money," Samuelsson said during a conference call from Sweden. "Obviously that was the key, I shouldn't lie.

"They have a good team going and I think my role can be a little different ... from Detroit. It's a good opportunity for me."

While Samuelsson decided to leave the Red Wings, Ruslan Fedotenko is returning to the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

Fedotenko, who had 16 goals and 39 points in 65 games last season, agreed to a US$1.8-million, one-year deal.

The 30-year-old joined Pittsburgh as a free agent last summer and won his second NHL championship. He also won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004. In 597 career games with Philadelphia, Tampa, Pittsburgh and the Islanders, Fedotenko has 139 goals and 278 points.

Samuelsson spent the past four seasons in Detroit, winning the Stanley Cup in 2008 and falling one game short this year. He also was a member of the Swedish team that won the gold medal at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics. The 32-year-old has played 466 career NHL games, scoring 86 goals and 208 points. Lorne Henning, Vancouver's assistant general manager, said Samuelsson could skate on a line with Swedish twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

"He is a right-handed shot which we love about him," Henning said. "He has a familiarity with the twins. Plus, he's great on the power play. He has a great shot. "There are a lot of pluses we like. He's certainly going to be on the top two lines."

One thing Henning isn't concerned about is Samuelsson's age.

"He is in phenomenal shape," said Henning. "He works hard. His conditioning is off the charts. We don't see that as an issue at all."

Bringing Samuelsson into the fold was the Canuck's second major signing this week. On Wednesday, the Sedins agreed to matching US$30.5-million, five-year contract extensions just prior to becoming unrestricted free agents.

The team is also believed to be close to signing goaltender Roberto Luongo to a contract extension. He could become a free agent next summer.

Henning said Samuelsson's history as a Stanley Cup winner and Olympic champion are a bonus.

"He knows what it takes," Henning said. "You can never get enough guys that are winners.

"We want to build character and he certainly has a lot of that. Winning the Cup is where we want to get. You can never have enough guys that won before."

In other NHL moves, the New York Rangers signed Tyler Arnason to a two-way contract.

The 30-year-old spent last season with the Colorado Avalanche, scoring five goals and 22 points in 71 games. Arnason joins his fourth NHL team after stops in Chicago, Ottawa and Colorado. In 487 career games, Arnason has 88 goals and 245 points.

The Rangers also signed free-agent forwards Corey Locke and P.A. Parenteau.

In Phoenix, the Coyotes signed defenceman Shaun Heshka to a one-year contract Friday.

In other news, Anaheim forward Teemu Selanne told a Finnish newspaper that he will retire from the NHL after the upcoming season.

"The next season is without doubt my last," he said. "This time my decision will be kept."