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The Canucks are expected to pass on retaining UFA centre Elias Lindholm and could consider UFA Teddy Blueger expendable, unless the price is right.
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Published Jun 18, 2024 • Last updated 8 hours ago • 5 minute read
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Canucks winger Pius Suter and Predators star Filip Forsberg battle May 3 in Nashville. Suter scored the late game-winner in 1-0 decision to clinch the first-round series. Will Suter move back to the middle next season? Photo by George Walker IV /AP
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A year ago, Rick Tocchet was contemplating his riddle in the middle.
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The Vancouver Canucks’ head coach had J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson as his prime pivots, but beyond that, it was just Nils Aman. However, before the NHL club made off-season plays for Pius Suter and Teddy Blueger, there was more than just a passing thought on unrestricted free agent Sean Monahan as a possible fit.
That past scenario is just as relevant today because Tocchet could be facing another dilemma.
The Canucks are expected to pass on retaining UFA centre Elias Lindholm — he could command US$8 million annually to end a long pursuit by the Boston Bruins — and could also consider Blueger expendable.
It would create more salary cap space for a big pitch at coveted UFA right-winger Jake Guentzel, who could seek more than $US9 million when free agency opens July 1.
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That would solve one pressing top-six positional need, but there’s another one. The Canucks are in go-for-it mode to build on 109 points, a Pacific Division championship and go farther in the post-season. To do that, they must be good and deep down the middle to progress and not regress.
That requirement has never gone away.
Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard drops Canucks centre Elias Lindholm during Game 7 of their second-round series on May 20. Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images
The Canucks were willing to roll the dice on a Lindholm trade that cost a 2024 first-round pick, conditional pick, prospect defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz and mercurial winger Andrei Kuzmenko. It speaks to where they’re at with core players and the mandate to keep winning in a window of opportunity.
“I’d like a guy who can take faceoffs, and it’s a priority to have a grittier guy who can settle things down,” Tocchet said last June of his centre preference. “It’s hard to find.”
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The bench boss has always placed a premium on size and experience. Somebody who could be defensively diligent, dominate faceoffs and excel on special teams. A year ago, that somebody who had been there and knew how to get a club to the next level was of paramount importance. That hasn’t changed.
An intriguing possibility was convincing the 6-foot-2, 202 pound Monahan to find his game on a short deal here with the appeal to revive a career. He was limited to 17 points (6-11) in 25 games in 2022-23 with the Montreal Canadiens after suffering a broken foot and needing groin surgery.
There were durability questions about Monahan but players get hurt. The Habs knew that.
Monahan wanted to remain in Montreal and accepted a one-year contract this season at a bargain US1.985 million salary cap hit — his expiring cap hit after the 2022-23 season was US$6.375 million — to convince the Canadiens he still had plenty of game.
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Monahan responded with 35 points (13-22) in 49 outings, but as a pending UFA, he was dealt to the Winnipeg Jets in February for a 2024 first-round pick and a conditional third-rounder in 2027.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff expected Monahan to play as advertised and bring a strong presence and defend well in matchups. That’s what also intrigued the Canucks.
“He’s a real professional and one of the strengths he does have is faceoffs,” said Cheveldayoff. “It’ll help other guys because sometimes when faceoffs are going in the wrong direction, all it takes is one guy to tip it the other way.”
Monahan, 29, had 24 points (13-11) in 35 games as a second-line centre between Kyle Connor and Cole Perfetti and led the Jets in faceoff efficiency (54.7 per cent). He also played the bumper position on the first power-play unit and killed penalties.
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And while Cheveldayoff would probably prefer to retain Monahan, term was going to be a concern.
That could also be a problem in a possible Canucks’ pursuit because he’s going to more than double an expiring bargain deal in free agency and also seek security. Can they find US$4.5 million to US$5 million annually?
Luke Schenn slams Canucks centre Teddy Blueger during Game 4 of their first-round series on April 28 in Nashville. Photo by George Walker IV George Walker /AP
The Canucks could still deploy the versatile Suter, 28, as their third-line centre. He has a year left on his deal at a team-friendly US$1.6 million cap hit and started this season between Conor Garland and Dakota Joshua.
Blueger and Lindholm then took over and Suter moved to left wing on Miller’s line. And bringing Blueger, 29, back to centre the fourth line at a modest bump on an expiring US$1.9 million hit might also be in the cards.
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It’s hard to imagine the Canucks wouldn’t consider a bigger move because Monahan is insurance should Pettersson struggle or somebody in the middle succumbs to injury. And he has also played wing.
However, there are salary-cap concerns depending on how roster scenarios unfold.
A good portion of US$16.8 million in remaining cap space will be eaten up by a Guentzel acquisition. And with pending restricted free agent Filip Hronek coming to terms Tuesday, and avoiding arbitration with an eight-year contract that carries an annual average value of US$7.25 million, some of the heavy lifting has been done.
Now, there’s also a Tyler Myers’ extension to pursue and determine whether the Canucks walk away from UFAs Joshua and Nikita Zadorov. If signed, they could easily tie up at least a combined US$8 million annually. We shall see.
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The Canucks now have 16 roster players signed — 10 forwards, four defencemen and two goalies.
CENTRES OF ATTENTION
UFAs expected to top wish lists July 1 with projected salary-cap hits (all figures in US dollars):
- Elias Lindholm, 29, expiring (4.85 million), new ($7-$8M).
- Chandler Stephenson, 30, expiring ($2.75M), new ($5.5M).
- Matt Duchene, 33, expiring ($3M), new ($4.5M).
- Sean Monahan, 29, expiring ($1.9M), new ($4.5-$5M).
- Alex Wennberg, 29, expiring ($4.5M), new ($4M).
bkuzma@postmedia.com
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Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-elias-lindholm-expected-exit-sean-monahan-intrigue