As the team kicks off their rebuild, the Vancouver Canucks offseason goals contain a myriad of items. Drafting is on everyone’s mind, but an important aspect of any rebuild is toughness and veteran leadership. Being tougher to play against will be beneficial not only for the young players but also could establish a positive locker room, something Vancouver has lacked in past seasons. We have already looked at the goaltending situation as well as some forwards the team could target for next season, so today, we will look at five defencemen the team could target.
Five Defencemen To Target in the Canucks’ Offseason Goals
Before we get into the Canucks’ defencemen targets, the Canucks have a couple of defencemen on expiring deals. Derek Forbort, who is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, did not play a regular-season game this season due to injuries. Pierre-Olivier Joseph is a restricted free agent this offseason, who recorded six points in 31 games this season. The Canucks are unlikely to sign Forbort as there are limited roster spots available. Joseph, on the other hand, is more of a toss-up. It really depends on who the Canucks are looking to add this offseason. Joseph will likely assume the role of a seventh or eighth defenceman next season, should the Canucks extend him.
Current Salary Cap Situation and Pending Free Agent Defenders to Re-Sign
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As for the salary cap, the Canucks have over $21 million to work with this offseason, with no prominent players to re-sign. This allows flexibility for the Canucks to add some grit and veteran leadership to the locker room.
Grit and Veteran Leadership Key in Offseason Defencemen Targets
It is worth noting that the Canucks’ blueline is relatively strong compared to their other positions. The team is set for the future, with Zeev Buium, Tom Willander and Elias Pettersson leading the way. They also have veterans in Filip Hronek and Marcus Pettersson on the team. Perhaps looking at one more veteran or physical defender would be the best way to approach the offseason.
In addition to adding more veteran presence to the locker room, another thing to consider is how much value the players will have at the trade deadline. As the Canucks rebuild, stockpiling draft picks will be important, and high-character, gritty players are usually highly sought after at each deadline. Now, let us look at five players who could fit this description.
1. Luke Schenn (Buffalo Sabres)
The former Vancouver Canuck could be a prime target, as he is known as a player who is great to have in the locker room. In his two previous stints with Vancouver, he showed his grit, tenacity, and leadership qualities. The two-time Stanley Cup champion could be the mentor and calming presence the young defenders need. Schenn is the all-time NHL leader in hits with 3,809, with 586 more than the second-place player, Radko Gudas.
He recently went on Donnie & Dhali to talk about his time with Vancouver, and how Ryan Johnson and Manny Malhotra were helpful to him in his time there. Now that Johnson is Vancouver’s general manager, and Malhotra is likely to become the next head coach, maybe that will spur Schenn to think about returning to the Canucks for the third time in his career.
Schenn’s services do not go unnoticed around the NHL, as he can fetch quite a price at trade deadlines. Most recently, he was packaged along with Logan Stanley to go to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Isak Rosen, Jacob Bryson, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick. Previously, he was also traded for as high as second-round draft picks and a third-round pick when Vancouver traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023.
2. Jacob Trouba (Anaheim Ducks)
Trouba will likely be a long shot for the Canucks to acquire, but it could be worth taking a shot, given his experience as team captain and his physical style of play. In 2024, he reportedly refused to leave the New York Rangers for any Canadian hockey team due to wanting to keep his family from needing to move north of the border. His wife, Kelly Tyson-Trouba, was in the middle of a medical residency in New York at the time.
Trouba would also require a much larger cap hit to acquire compared to anyone else on this list. His most recent contract, worth $8 million per year, will expire this offseason. Although his next contract will likely be at a lower cost, the Canucks may have less interest in a more costly player.
3. Ian Cole (Utah Mammoth)
Another former Canuck, Cole, could be a good, cost-effective option who could return to Vancouver this offseason. He is a stay-at-home defenseman who is effective at preventing scoring chances at 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill. He plays a physical game and could be an excellent role model for someone like Elias Pettersson, the defenceman. A short-term deal for the 37-year-old could be just what the doctor ordered.
4. Jeremy Lauzon (Vegas Golden Knights)
Lauzon is another defenceman who can really rack up those hit totals. He set the NHL record for hits with 383 in the 2023-24 season, until Kiefer Sherwood surpassed him the following year. He would be a strong pick for a defensive defenceman who is physical and willing to put his body on the line on the boards, in front of the net, or to spark the team in a fight.
He could also fetch a decent return on the trade market. In 2022, the Nashville Predators acquired Lauzon for a second-round draft pick from the Seattle Kraken.
5. Ilya Lyubushkin (Dallas Stars)
Lyubushkin represents a different situation, as he is not an unrestricted free agent. Much like the other players on this list, he is a physical defenceman who is not afraid to block shots, throw hits, or fight. However, his cap hit is not very desirable for a contender like the Dallas Stars at $3.25 million until the end of next season. The Canucks could take Lyubushkin off the hands of Dallas, as he could not crack the lineup after the addition of Tyler Myers.
These five players are just the tip of the iceberg of players the Canucks will likely look at, so leave your thoughts in the comments below if you think the Canucks should go for a particular player not mentioned here today.
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