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Who could still sign in Vancouver — and who probably won’t?
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Published Jun 20, 2024 • Last updated 2 days ago • 4 minute read
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As it stands, the Canucks’ offer isn’t quite what Nikita Zadorov and his agent Dan Milstein would like. Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images
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One down, nine to go.
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Getting Filip Hronek signed to a contract extension was top of the pecking order, Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin admitted this week. Hronek and the Canucks inking an eight-year, $58-million deal set the table a little better for Allvin, but he’s still facing some tough decisions over the next weeks.
There are nine more free agents — restricted free agent Arturs Silovs, plus eight unrestricted free agents — on the Canucks roster. Allvin said he is probably not going to be able to sign them all.
Let’s take a look at the state of play for Allvin and his staff with less than two weeks to go until free agency opens on July 1:
Who could yet return
There are three free agents who have a decent chance of returning, although none are certainties.
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Nikita Zadorov
The guy who won over so many Canucks fans with his booming playoff performance is a player the Canucks would really like to keep in the fold and the player knows this, but as it stands the Canucks’ offer isn’t quite what Zadorov and his agent Dan Milstein would like.
Talks between the two sides are quiet, as both sides know the other’s position. Zadorov and Milstein surely have a sense, too, of what offers might be out there, even if teams aren’t officially allowed to talk with looming free agents, you know they are quietly passing notes.
This door isn’t closed, but it’s also an unlikely reunion.
Teddy Blueger celebrates a goal against the Nashville Predators in December Photo by AP Photo/George Walker IV) /PNG
Teddy Blueger
The player knows management and coaches well. He filled the role the Canucks wanted him to fill exactly how they hoped he’d fill it.
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His agent is Ben Hankinson, who knows the Canucks well because he’s also Brock Boeser’s agent (and also Jake Guentzel’s agent).
There’s a likely fit here for Blueger to re-sign.
Of all the Canucks’ pending free agents, as things stand, Blueger and Tyler Myers are the most likely to be re-upped. That said, nothing is ever certain in hockey until it’s done, so Blueger could just as easily hit the market July 1.
The Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl battles Tyler Myers in the second round of the playoffs Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia
Tyler Myers
The player surely wants to stay in Vancouver. He’s carved out a life here with his young family.
Money is not going to be a huge sticking point at this point in his career, but he’s also not going to give his services away for free, given how well his most recent season went.
Talks have apparently been positive between Myers’s agent J.P. Barry and the Canucks, but the fact they have not yet reached a deal makes you wonder if the contract structure is a little dependant on how the rest of the Canucks’ signings shake out. Might the Canucks end up adding a year to his deal to lower his cap hit while paying out the same total dollars?
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It’s all about the price tag
Two guys look set to hit the market because there are likely teams out there who will be ready to pay more than Vancouver can offer, although the Canucks would love to bring both back.
Elias Lindholm skates with the puck against Mattias Ekholm of the Edmonton Oilers during Game Six of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Photo by Codie McLachlan /Getty Images
Elias Lindholm
Lindholm seems set to sign elsewhere. The Canucks were interested in keeping him — they are big on having three strong centres on the roster — but obviously, the price that Lindholm and his agent Craig Oster think he can draw in free agency will be at least as competitive as whatever the Canucks can offer.
Dakota Joshua Photo by Codie McLachlan /Getty Images
Dakota Joshua
As much as the Canucks want to keep Joshua — and they do, sources confirm — this is Joshua’s one chance to get a big payout.
He made $1.65 million per season the past two years and he stands to double that per-season wage, at least.
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He’s likely going to be a free agent come July 1.
See ya
And there are three players whose futures are surely elsewhere.
Predators winger Michael McCarron takes a shot on Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith during Game 2 of the clubs’ playoff series Tuesday at Rogers Arena. Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images
Casey DeSmith
DeSmith was the best Canucks backup goalie in a decade, but was usurped in the playoffs by Arturs Silovs.
It’s certain that DeSmith will have to find a new home next season.
Vancouver Canucks defenceman Ian Cole Photo by George Walker IV /AP
Ian Cole
Some media corps around the league hand out a good-guy award at the end of every season to the player who’s been the best to work with from a media perspective.
Cole, without doubt, would win such an award were there one to be given out in Vancouver. Although it should be noted that J.T. Miller would come a close a second.
But Cole wasn’t paid for his quotes, as good as they were. He was paid to be a veteran leader, which he was, and a dependable depth defenceman, which he mostly was.
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Still, he’s in his 30s and what he brought in terms of play can likely be replaced by a younger, cheaper option.
Sam Lafferty Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images
Sam Lafferty
He skated hard but his role mostly diminished as the season wore on, although he did get some time here and there with Elias Pettersson.
But players like him are easy to find and often for cheap, so bet on him also not returning next season.
And the RFA
Which brings us, finally, to the ninth player without a contract for next season …
Arturs Silovs
Leave no doubt that the young goalie will have a new contract and will be on the NHL roster by the time next season starts. He showed he is ready to be Thatcher Demko’s backup, and he’ll be a cheaper option than DeSmith.
pjohnston@postmedia.com
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Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-gm-allvin-still-looking-at-nine-free-agents-after-hronek-signing