If General Manager Patrik Allvin holds true to his word, then there will be very little of the Vancouver Canucks money left to spend next season. No buyouts, wanting everyone to have a “big Summer” for next year?
That sounds like a team reluctant to make changes, but this management group hasn’t exactly been timid.
Fake Money, Real Problems
The salary cap isn’t going up by an appreciable amount for 2023-24. It will go up, but a $1 million buffer isn’t going to do much for any team. Most of that will get eaten by the $850,000 in overages carried from the 2022-23 season.
The Canucks, of course, only have themselves to blame, even as they limit their options. Allvin doesn’t use many strong terms, but he was as emphatic as he gets regarding buyouts.
“[…]I think that this group is touching the surface of becoming a good team so I don’t want to use buyouts if we don’t have to, if it’s going to affect us in a few years when this group is hopefully taking off.”
That’s been the message running through the Allvin/Rick Tocchet press appearances. They believe – or say they do – that the team is close to getting where they want to go. Adding a centre specifically for match-ups was named a top priority. Getting a reliable backup for Demko was discussed.
Allvin repeatedly name-dropped Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, and Quinn Hughes as the new core of the team. But those three were never going to be the problem next season. The problem is identifying – and somehow fitting in – solutions to what the problems are.
What The Problems Are
Breaking it down into very basic forms, there are:
- the Canucks money problem;
- their 3C problem;
- and their backup problem.
They do have answers, fortunately, even if we can only guess what form those answers will take. There have been some staffing changes, and others can happen through the Summer.
The on-ice talent is going to get a makeover, that much is certain. Just how extensive it will be is a question nobody can answer just yet, but we know it’s coming. And it’s not going to be easy.
Starting with the easiest answers first, then.
Whoa. Wait. Backup.
This already has a clear answer, though Allvin tried a bit of camouflage. But despite saying he “wouldn’t mind” if Arturs Silovs stuck in the NHL as a backup, that’s not the best option. Silovs has another year on his two-way deal, paying him $70,000 in the AHL and $775,000 in the NHL. Spencer Martin, who started behind Demko this season, makes $775,000 in either location next year.
While that doesn’t affect the salary cap at all, the owners can presumably count the difference of $700K. Martin’s return to form in the AHL this year improves his NHL prospects as much as his already-signed contract does.
Silovs, meanwhile, can continue to be the starter in the AHL. He has a lot of ground to make up after the two COVID years where he played just 41 games at any level. Sitting on the bench for 60 games, even if it’s in the NHL, is the wrong choice for him now.
Uneasy-3C
Vancouver wants, called out by name, a third-line centre. That means someone who can win at faceoffs, is sound defensively, can work the penalty kill, and get some points. That last one is a stumbling block, but not the only one.
He should also be young-ish, have good size, and come cheap because the Canucks money supply is rapidly dwindling. That’s all to go with the completely reliable, leadership qualities, good with fans, etc. So, you know. Nobody.
There are always trades available, though finding a team with excess centres is a pipe dream. Moving Bo Horvat out didn’t actually change much, as Miller was never going to play centre until forced.
A quick look at who is there leaves something to be desired. As revelatory as Nils Åman and Sheldon Dries were, they managed just 16 and 17 points respectively. They aren’t exactly imposing figures either, topping out at 180 lbs.
Dakota Joshua was great and has also played centre, but that’s not going to be his meal ticket in the NHL. Handy to have if his centre gets thrown out of the circle, though.
From the Outside In
There are a few out there coming up as unrestricted free agents, though it’s hard to picture them coming in without winning a bidding war. Everyone available – or likely to be come July – has flaws. Age, size, mediocre defence, or just financial cost are real limits.
Locally-born Alexander Kerfoot might be inclined to come to the coast. Oskar Sundqvist has some short-handed time on his resume. Marcus Johansson might not want the reduction in ice time the 3C designation would give him. Same could be said about Nick Bjugstad, even if you trusted him to repeat his scoring.
There’s just nothing much there, and what there is will cost the Canucks money. There is a glimmer of hope in Abbotsford with Aatu Raty, but the 20-year-old won’t be ready for such a vital role just yet. If the Canucks want a centre, he should work on that in the AHL for at least one more year.
If the team wants to improve their third-line centre through free agency, they’ll need to overpay. That’s just the nature of free agency. Or they can trade for someone who is already being overpaid. In either case, they need cap space to do it.
Cap Space is King
The Canucks money woes are self-inflicted, sure, but they can help their own cause come draft day. Or September 1st if Tyler Myers cooperates. It’s going to be a bit trickier than some fans assume to move Myers.
Not only does he have a $6 million cap hit, but he also has a 10-team no-trade clause. Maybe you don’t think that’s a problem – it’s a 32-team league, after all. Consider, then, that right now there are four teams who could afford him.
That’s obviously going to change as contracts expire, but we all know there are teams who are willing to take on that load. And if we know, you can guarantee that he knows and his agent knows. And if they know, how many of those teams are among his chosen ten?
If you had a bad reaction to the cost of moving Jason Dickinson, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Yes, eventually the Canucks got prospect Josh Bloom for their second-round pick. But it means they have no second-round pick.
Ethan Bear is a bit of a conundrum. His qualifier is just $2.2 million, and he’ll certainly want more. Climbing up to $3-3.5 million wouldn’t be a problem if he can guarantee continuous improvement. His ability to get the puck out of the Canucks end is second-best on the team, but Vancouver needs points.
Then you look over the list of right-side defencemen free agents and that $3.5 million looks like a bargain. John Klingberg and Kevin Shattenkirk are good, but they aren’t available for that price.
Cue Ominous Music
So the team doesn’t want to use buyouts, and their fans are unlikely to respond well to losing more draft picks. Saving the Vancouver Canucks money is going to come down to one thing: their wingers.
We’ll dig into those options next.
Hat tip, as ever, to the incredibly useful CapFriendly
Main Photo: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
