The 2023-24 Vancouver Canucks defence is a favourite topic of conversation – and consternation – among fans. Cap crunch, unmovable contracts, and missing talent have all been part of the media maelstrom consecutively and concurrently. Then it got quiet…
Canucks Defence Takes Offence
The Canucks acted with surprising speed, buying out Oliver Ekman-Larsson as soon as they could. With that one move, a huge number of difficulties ended for GM Patrik Alvin. It flies in the face of president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford‘s words, that a buyout wasn’t “their intention.” But it is the smart move, from the team’s perspective.
It also means that owner Francisco Aquilini is on the hook for nearly $19.5 million, making the move all the more shocking.
Consider that the team exited the so-called “Bubble Playoffs” with a mandate to shed as much cash as possible. That choice sank any possible momentum the team had built and is as responsible as anything else for their current predicament. Paying someone not to play in Vancouver is something the team has done all too often of late. Changing that is impressive.
But fans don’t buy jerseys with owners’ names on the back. The effect of this decision changes the atmosphere around the Canucks next moves entirely. Instead of being the only team above next year’s (presumed) $83.5 million salary cap, they are now over $6.4 million clear of it.
Should they enter the season with Tanner Pearson, Tucker Poolman, and now Ethan Bear on the long-term injured reserve list, they can have $12 million in space available. That space includes just four Canucks defencemen signed at the NHL level, though. And even that number is up for debate.
Bottom Line Blue Line
The four defencemen currently considered signed by the invaluable CapFriendly are Tyler Myers, Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek, and Guillaume Brisebois. Brisebois got his first points in the NHL last year – including as brilliant a photo of a first NHL goal we’ve ever seen.
Hanging these up in the Brisebois household. pic.twitter.com/AbZs1CjjcS
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) March 15, 2023
But that doesn’t mean he’ll still be on the opening night roster. Looking to fill spaces on the defence with their currently signed defencemen is fraught with risk. There are seasoned AHL veterans (like Brisebois), not-quite-ready prospects who should probably get more experience, and total question marks.
No. Just No.
There are a few players who are just out of college, so are older and more physically developed than true prospects. That being said, the leap from college hockey straight to the NHL is a large one. Getting pro experience at the AHL level first is best for their development – but in case of emergency, you know they won’t get completely run over.
They include Akito Hirose out of Minnesota State and Cole McWard from Ohio State. Both got cups of coffee with the Canucks defence late last year. Another fitting into this category is Filip Johansson, a 23-year-old who is an established SHL player but hasn’t played a shift in North America.
Brady Keeper‘s disastrous injury kept him out of the 2021-22 season entirely, but his 35 AHL games in 2022-23 helped show he can play. Might not be here, though, as he’s still without a contract, and at 27 that’s a steep hill to climb.
The young guys not coming to Vancouver are easy to spot. Kirill Kudryavtsev and Elias Pettersson (not that one) are going to dip their toes in at the pro level next year. No matter how much Vancouver needs bodies, these AREN’T who they turn to.
The most interesting guy to watch is Jett Woo. His light has shone and dimmed since his 2018 selection, but it’s no surprise if the old-style throwback takes a bit longer to round out his game. Woo should be leading the Abbotsford Canucks defence this year, not waiting to play five minutes in Vancouver.
For a team looking to make the playoffs* these aren’t the options.
Injury Reserves
Guillaume Brisebois has been with the Canucks since they drafted him in the third round of 2015. He’s been determined to make his mark in Vancouver’s system ever since, and good on him for getting into 17 games last year. But he probably isn’t the one to win a role in the starting six. However, as a 7-8 backing the squad? He can fit there, but there’s competition. More likely an AHL starter for now.
Kyle Burroughs is currently without a contract, but with Bear out and Ekman-Larsson gone, the Canucks defence could use him. He plays with an edge, which the team needs, and hit the ice for 90 games over the past two seasons. If he’s signed on, it’s likely going to be for the same role again.
Noah Juulsen is another local boy playing as a tweener for the Canucks over the past two seasons. He is also, as of this writing, unsigned. A right-side, right-handed defender, Juulsen might find a more lucrative deal elsewhere, but if not he’s welcome here as an early call-up.
Okay, Maybe
No kidding, Christian Wolanin was an AHL revelation last year. He scored six and totalled 55 points – tops for a defenceman – in just 49 games. Those numbers bought him NHL time, and he became one of the more reliable members of the Canucks defence.
Three assists in 16 games are hardly earth-shaking numbers, but stopping goals counts, too. He played well enough to get a two-year deal and has earned a shot on Vancouver’s left side.
The real curiosity here is whether Jack Rathbone will come through as an offensive defenceman with Vancouver. He has the talent – 40 points in 39 AHL games in 2021-22 is no lie – but the Canucks might not have the room.
Rathbone has just turned 24 and played 11 NHL games in 2022-23, scoring once and getting an assist. He’s got great skating and a very good shot, but is seen here as “Hughes Light”. And when you have the original, being the copy isn’t a selling point.
*groan if you’ve heard this one before!
Main Photo: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
