With time running out to sign the restricted and unrestricted free agents currently on team rosters, the Vancouver Canucks will need to ponder whom, amongst their five pending free agents, they will want to bring back. Today, we will look at whether or not the Canucks should sign their pending free agents.
5 Pending Free Agents on the Vancouver Canucks Roster
Credit Image: © Peter Joneleit/Cal Sport Media
With over $21 million in salary cap space, the Canucks have some room to add to their roster. We have already discussed some signings Vancouver could make in the offseason, including the forwards and defencemen they could add. Of course, with additions come possible subtractions. There are five pending free agents the Canucks could bring back, so let us go over each of the names.
The Players Who Are Unlikely to Return
We will start out with the easier discussions, which include the likes of the players who are unlikely to be offered extensions. First off, Evander Kane. Acquired by Vancouver from the Edmonton Oilers for a fourth-round draft pick, Kane has not panned out the way that former general manager Patrik Allvin and former president Jim Rutherford would have hoped. Kane was brought in as a potential upgrade to Vancouver’s middle six, as well as a player who would make the team tougher to play against. It is a foregone conclusion that Kane will not return to the team, as he has already unfollowed the team on Instagram and was not present for season-ending interviews.
Derek Forbort is another player unlikely to return. He did not play a regular-season game this season due to injuries. With the defensive depth in this organization, the Canucks are better off exploring other options for depth defencemen or looking within the organization for players who could play consistently on the third pairing.
Players Who Could Be Brought Back, at the Right Price
Next, we will look at two players who could be brought back if the price is reasonable. Pierre-Olivier Joseph, if the Canucks decide to extend the restricted free agent, will likely not be expensive to keep around. As a seventh or eighth defender, he would not be a bad choice, but his usage would be limited. Perhaps the team would be better off exploring more veteran free agent defenders who would crack the lineup on a regular basis.
Teddy Blueger is probably the most difficult player to ponder. He has stated that he would want to stay on the team as a culture carrier, but he would likely want a raise above his current $1.8 million cap hit. Blueger is an effective centre who can be very versatile. Former Canucks head coach Adam Foote had plenty of praise for the Latvian forward, noting he would love to have him for a playoff run. Without Blueger on the penalty kill for the majority of this past season, the Canucks PK fell to last in the NHL. However, if the price gets too high for Blueger in a thin free agent market, it may be time to move on.
The Forward the Canucks Could Ill-Afford to Lose
As the Canucks start their rebuild, a type of player that the Canucks should keep is players who can protect the aspiring young players. Curtis Douglas fits this bill perfectly. He was brought in at the trade deadline last season as a waiver claim, and his teammates, such as Zeev Buium, have said that with Douglas’ presence, he has been able to play more freely, knowing that the tallest active NHL player was there to protect him. The Canucks should be able to bring him back on a cheap contract and play him on the fourth line in an enforcer or physical role.
With mere days left before free agency, time will tell who the Canucks decide to sign.
Main Photo Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
