What We've Got (Looking Ahead With Current Contracts)

[Meds]

Now that the season and draft lottery are in the books, I was just considering what the team currently has under contract (2026 UFA's not included), what we have in those contracts, and what we could have if the right new impact players are acquired and proper supports put in place.

Blue: Can build with going forward and kept unless Don Corleone calls.
Green: Useful but if a good deal is there pull the trigger.
Red: Move along please.
Black: Indifferent/Insufficient Data


Forwards

Pettersson ($11.6M x 6 years): Looking more like a 2nd line pivot who can't show up for big games but plays responsible defense. I don't think we can get more out of him than what we saw this year without him seeing a psychologist all summer. No matter who you put with him, it's dependent upon him at this point. My preference here is well known so I digress.

Boeser ($7.25M x 6 years): Top-6 winger, team-first guy who wants to be in Vancouver. Every team needs a guy like this and he could quite easily morph into our version of Toffoli, with more offensive chops and production given the right linemates. His green jacket is unfortunate, but I think it to be linked to deployment more than anything else.

DeBrusk ($5.5M x 5 years): Top-9 winger, historically inconsistent 5-on-5 production that was magnified this year. Has shown in the past that he can step up in the playoffs and plays a decent game. Isn't afraid of any area of the ice. Average 200-foot IQ. Has indicated that he may prefer a fresh start. I would look at what's available in free agency and then see what can be had for him in trade.

Rossi ($5M x 2 years): Top-6 center with upside. Like Brock his effectiveness depends upon his linemates, however there may be more there than we think. This article was from a few days ago and the comparisons to Nick Suzuki are worth noting.

Chytil ($4.4M x 1 year): Lemon. No future with the Canucks beyond this season imho, and hopefully realizes he needs to retire. Best case scenario for both him and the team is LTIR all season.

Hoglander ($3M x 2 years): Could still become a 3rd line winger, though unlikely. UW had a good take on him and how the play dies on his stick because he can neither pass nor receive a pass very effectively. If he can return anything above a 4th round pick (or be part of a package), I think that's a good option.

O'Connor ($2.5M x 1 year): Bottom-9 forward. Versatile and relatively inexpensive for what he brings. If he finds a bit more game then I'd look at giving him another deal in the 3 year range.

Ohgren ($886K x 1 year): Intriguing youngster. Can definitely handle the physical pace and rigors of the NHL. His willingness to go to the net, and his hands combined with strength, make me wonder if we found fleeter of foot version of Niklas Holmstrom. Middle-6 winger worth trying to develop.

Karlsson ($2.2M x 2 years): Bottom-6 forward with potential to climb onto a 2nd line with the right mix. He's a pest with really good hands in close, and he earned his spot over time. It's like Hank or Dank had a kid and they let Burrows raise him.

Raty ($775K x 1 year): I didn't see enough of him this year that makes me give an opinion. His stat line is uninspiring until you look at his FO% which is an eye-popping 60.5%. If he could skate a little better that would make him a more desirable asset. Even so, his defensive game has stepped up and a case could be made to roll him out with a pair of wingers who enthusiastically forecheck and play hard defense in a 4th line role.....if he can PK, he's a guy I'm looking at keeping.

Lekkerimaki ($918K x 1 year): Haven't seen a player that screams NHL regular in him so far. The team seems high on him though.

Cootes ($942K x 3 years): Everything we've seen from him in junior is positive. His playoff run in the Dub this year has been good. Hopefully he can make the jump next year, but I'm not sold he's a lock. I also think he takes 2-3 years before we actually have a top-6 pivot at the NHL level in him.....longer if he's not supported properly.

Sasson ($1M x 2 years): Cheap, can take a regular shift in the bottom-6. Skates fast enough, but if you find someone almost as fast an twice as physical, make that move.

Defensemen

Hronek ($7.25M x 6 years): First pairing RHD that is useful through 200 feet. Keep him until someone is drafted and developed to the point they push him out and then trade him at that point.

M. Pettersson ($5.5M x 5 years): No puck skills. Gets pushed around easily by big forwards. Average+ skating. No shot. If anyone offers to take his salary off of our hands that deal should be struck.

Buium ($966K x 1 year): Lots of upside here. Hopefully a key part of the next core going forward.

Willander ($950K x 3 years): RHD with upside. Already showing top-4 chops at times, I can see him being a more mobile and offensively gifted version of Hronek. If he develops as projected he's part of the top-4 nucleus that the Canucks go forward with.

Mancini ($1M x 2 years): RHD stop-gap at this point. Decent mobility, and not small. Maybe he surprises everyone and becomes a #4 guy, but likely tops out as a useful #5/6.

E. Pettersson ($838K x 1 year): Some flashes of top-4 potential, but I think he becomes a solid #5 on a good team at his peak. The Canucks could do a lot worse than to have him and Mancini form an affordable and effective homegrown bottom-pairing down the road.

Kudryavtsev ($885K x 1 year): No idea what we have here, looked decent in the AHL, but very limited use with at the end of the season with the big club.

Goaltenders

Demko ($8.5M x 3 years): Injury prone. The team spin that they think they got the root of his lower body problems figured out with this latest surgery is probably too good to be true. If it is true than the Canucks have an elite goaltender, and hopefully one that wants to go to a contender for his last season or two in return for a high pick or quality prospect.

Lankinen ($4.5M x 4 years): Our [insert Edmonton Oiler goaltender name of choice]. Enough said.

Tolopilo ($775K x 1 year): Flashes of NHL goalie there. Maybe just a back-up, maybe a bottom-12 starter.

I see some decent pieces here, unfortunately most of them are supports, some of them are key supports, but there is a dearth of game breaking talent right now.....particularly in the forward group.

[Topper]

Dead last

How can any be untouchable?

Blue: Can build with going forward and kept unless Don Corleone calls.
Green: Useful but if a good deal is there pull the trigger.
Red: Move along please.
Black: Indifferent/Insufficient Data

Piss or get off the pot

Forwards

Pettersson ($11.6M x 6 years):

Boeser ($7.25M x 6 years):

DeBrusk ($5.5M x 5 years):

Rossi ($5M x 2 years):

Chytil ($4.4M x 1 year)

Hoglander ($3M x 2 years):

O'Connor ($2.5M x 1 year):

Ohgren ($886K x 1 year):

Karlsson ($2.2M x 2 years)

Raty ($775K x 1 year):

Lekkerimaki ($918K x 1 year):

Cootes ($942K x 3 years):.

Sasson ($1M x 2 years):

Defensemen

Hronek ($7.25M x 6 years):

M. Pettersson ($5.5M x 5 years):

Buium ($966K x 1 year):

Willander ($950K x 3 years):

Mancini ($1M x 2 years):

E. Pettersson ($838K x 1 year):

Kudryavtsev ($885K x 1 year):

Goaltenders

Demko ($8.5M x 3 years):

Lankinen ($4.5M x 4 years):

Tolopilo ($775K x 1 year):

[donlever]

Good OP Mëds!



Can't argue with Toppers response much all things considered.

May comment further another time.

[Nuckertuzzi]

Leaning a little more with Mëds assessment but pretty fair so far.

The first two guys I'm looking at are the two who can get you the best assets. DeBrusk for sure. I'm certain there's a market for him. A Myers/Garland type return would be fine by me ideally if you can get something done before the draft. The other is Hronek if we end up drafting a righty Dman. This one wouldn't have to happen right away but as mentioned in other posts, the first team I'm calling is the Sharks to delve into their impressive prospect pool. Willander would be next up if they prefer him instead.

The other blues are pretty much on par with what I'm thinking. Godfather offer or wait it out. I would put Buium and Ohgren in blue, but generally zero untouchables on this team except 3rd OA, but even that could be had if something earth shattering pops up that nets you multiple tickets.

The reds I agree with but are more complicated moves than simply dump them for anything. I could honestly care less one way or another if they're here or not. We need to suck, these guys being here won't hurt that, only help. Dumping them for anything now because you hate them are emotional decisions that lead to mistakes. If you get nothing back and/or have to eat money, just let them play at least for the time being, who cares?

[theman]

Good OP, only change I would make is Oghren from green to blue. Think we have a 2nd line winger with him.

[Lancer]

Good OP, only change I would make is Oghren from green to blue. Think we have a 2nd line winger with him.

I think he's more realistically a good third line option. That said, good third line wingers with his size and speed don't always grow on trees. If only he liked punching people...

Not anyone I would consider part of any core at this moment, but he shows some promise to be a useful piece once the team starts contending.

[Picker of Cherries]

Boeser might have some residual value. If he does, move him. Every year the league is getting faster, but Brock isn’t. Great guy, but his negative plus minus record wasn’t something he’s going to improve much. A good GM is going to get him playing with some good skaters, up his value a little, and move him at the first decent offer.

DeBrusk may have some value because of his PP goals. The next GM should sell at any decent offer.

[Nuckertuzzi]

I think this guy's going to get better and better with each passing year and make his way up the line up. Someone you want to be patient with. No need or rush to do anything with him except develop.

[Topper]

Good OP Mëds!



Can't argue with Toppers response much all things considered.

May comment further another time.

My green are guys who may be not much more than warm bodies that can play. The kind of guys you need to fill a roster but are always up for replacement. The other group of green are kids who have shown enough that they are worth investing some development resources on and see if they work for it.

Red are guys who should be deep 6'd though it may not be practical in some instances. For the most part, no tears if lost on waivers.

[Nuckertuzzi]

That's fair. I'm sure a bunch of them will be waived. Successfully or not is another story.

[Meds]

Dead last

How can any be untouchable?

Blue: Can build with going forward and kept unless Don Corleone calls.
Green: Useful but if a good deal is there pull the trigger.
Red: Move along please.
Black: Indifferent/Insufficient Data

Piss or get off the pot

None of them are untouchable.....not sure why you think that was implied.

My green are guys who may be not much more than warm bodies that can play. The kind of guys you need to fill a roster but are always up for replacement. The other group of green are kids who have shown enough that they are worth investing some development resources on and see if they work for it.

Red are guys who should be deep 6'd though it may not be practical in some instances. For the most part, no tears if lost on waivers.

Saw this after I replied to your first one.

Essentially same thoughts, just wording a bit differently. The "blue" dudes are just ones that I wouldn't part with as easily.

[Cousin Strawberry]

What a depressing group of players holy hell.

There's 2/3 of 5/8 of fuck all to get a chub about

[Meds]

Good OP, only change I would make is Oghren from green to blue. Think we have a 2nd line winger with him.

Perhaps, but a 2nd line winger is still someone you trade if it's a good trade. But you don't move him for a bag of pucks.

Karlsson probably should be "green".....but his bang for buck and versatility up and down the line-up would give me pause on moving him easily.

[Meds]

What a depressing group of players holy hell.

There's 2/3 of 5/8 of fuck all to get a chub about

You ain't wrong man. You ain't wrong.

[Meds]

That's fair. I'm sure a bunch of them will be waived. Successfully or not is another story.

I'm not sure how many on that list will be waived.

Sasson, Mancini, D-Pete, Tolopilo, Kudryavtsev, and Lekkerimaki?

The guys who you'd want to wavie just to make space for others hold NMC's.