The Vancouver Canucks have been busy on the primary day of free company signing seven gamers: Jake DeBrusk, Kiefer Sherwood, Derek Forbort, Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, Jiri Patera, and Nate Smith. After the mini purchasing spree, normal supervisor Patrik Allvin has very restricted cap house to make any extra strikes (barring a commerce, in fact). He can, nonetheless, rummage across the discount bin and doubtlessly discover some worth in a number of free brokers left available on the market.
Justin Schultz
When Justin Schultz was a coveted free agent popping out of the NCAA, the Canucks have been one of many groups bidding for his companies. Whereas Allvin wasn’t the GM on the time, he may nonetheless have an interest within the Vancouver native because of the present entrance workplace’s familiarity with him. In reality, it was then-Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford who acquired him from the Edmonton Oilers in 2015-16 and signed him to a three-year extension on the primary day of free company in 2017.
Associated: Revisiting the 2019-20 Vancouver Canucks’ Playoff Run
Schultz had his finest seasons with the Penguins, posting a career-high 12 objectives and 51 factors in 2016-17. He additionally shined within the playoffs with 4 objectives and 13 factors serving to the Penguins to their second-straight Stanley Cup. Like DeBrusk, he has intensive postseason expertise and was actually good for the Seattle Kraken after they made it to the second spherical in 2023. He led all defencemen with three objectives and 10 factors, averaging solely 15:54 of ice time.
If the Canucks find yourself signing Schultz, he could possibly be reunited along with his former defence accomplice in Seattle, Carson Soucy. They performed 437:14 at even power collectively and had an honest 51.27 Corsi for share (CF%). They have been additionally an efficient pairing within the playoffs, with the Kraken outscoring their opponents 10-4 together with their goaltenders posting a .945 save share after they have been on the ice.
Schultz hasn’t come near the 51 factors he put up in Pittsburgh, however he’s remained good for 20-30 factors and nonetheless has the mobility and offensive consciousness that drew so many to him when he was a free agent popping out of school. He would add some much-needed velocity to the proper aspect that solely has Filip Hronek and Tyler Myers that may rush the puck up the ice. In response to AFPAnalytics, he’s projected to signal a two-year deal value virtually $2.5 million common annual worth (AAV). Nonetheless, I see him signing for nearer to $2 million and even much less, particularly if he indicators later within the offseason.
Adam Boqvist
The Columbus Blue Jackets purchased out Swedish defenceman Adam Boqvist and he’s now an unrestricted free agent at 23 years outdated. Regardless of being the centrepiece of the blockbuster commerce that despatched Seth Jones to the Chicago Blackhawks, he was finally compelled down the depth chart by Ivan Provorov, Damon Severson, and high prospect Adam Jiricek. He additionally handled numerous damage issues throughout his time in Columbus, by no means taking part in greater than 52 video games in a season. In 2023-24, he suffered varied accidents that restricted him to simply 35 video games, together with a concussion that compelled him to overlook the ultimate 16 video games of the common season. The buyout was simply the ultimate piece of unhealthy luck throughout a marketing campaign he would probably need to neglect.
When wholesome, Boqvist is a dynamic puck-moving defenceman with distinctive hockey IQ and consciousness. He was chosen eighth total in 2018 for a cause and flashed a few of his potential throughout his career-season in 2021-22 when he had 11 objectives and 22 factors. After that season, it appeared that he was destined to be an enormous a part of the Blue Jackets’ blue line, however in fact, accidents have derailed that since then. He may nonetheless be an influence defenceman within the NHL sooner or later, and the Canucks ought to benefit from his bargain-basement worth proper now and signal him. AFPAnalytics places his future contract at virtually $2.4 million AAV on a three-year deal, however I may see him signing for nearer to $1.5 or $2 million.
Tyson Barrie
Tyson Barrie hasn’t had it straightforward since being included within the commerce for Mattias Ekholm. He was the principle man on the facility play in Edmonton with the likes of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Now, he’s a free agent searching for a brand new dwelling after an underwhelming stint in Music Metropolis the place he solely had 4 objectives and 27 factors in 65 video games. Earlier than that, he was averaging over 40 factors a season and was a highly-touted energy play specialist and offensive defenceman.
Barrie is one other Vancouver native that would discover his technique to the Canucks on a discount deal. He may anchor the second energy play unit, together with including extra velocity and puck motion to the defence corps. He was rumoured to be a goal of Allvin’s final December, so I wouldn’t be stunned to see him revisit that curiosity someday this offseason. He received’t get practically as a lot as he obtained on his final contract, with AFPAnalytics projecting somewhat over $1.74 million on a one-year deal.
Canucks Ought to Add One Extra Puck-Transferring Defenceman in Free Company
Whereas the Canucks added Desharnais and Forbort to bolster the blue line, each of them aren’t recognized for his or her skating or offence. They’re prone to take up residence on the penalty kill and make opponents afraid of getting crushed after they go on the assault. Schultz, Boqvist or Barrie would add that additional layer of velocity and offensive potential to the defence, pushing the tempo in order that the staff spends much less time in their very own zone. We’ll see what else Allvin has up his sleeve within the subsequent couple of months, however one signing ought to be somebody able to transferring the puck and placing up some factors from the again finish.
