What We've Got (Looking Ahead With Current Contracts)
Posted: Wed May 06, 2026 4:59 pm
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.
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.
