The Vancouver Canucks’ general manager, Patrik Allvin, has been busy making moves over the past 48 hours to address the team’s roster needs. One significant signing was Teddy Blueger, who was locked up for two years at a team-friendly $1.8 million AAV, improving the penalty kill and adding depth at center. Another smart move was the cap-clearing deal involving Ilya Mikheyev, which cost the team next to nothing. Dakota Joshua was also extended for four years at a fair price of $13 million, solidifying Vancouver’s third line. Finally, Allvin secured Tyler Myers with a three-year, $3 million AAV pact.
With these moves in mind, let’s evaluate the Canucks’ remaining roster needs and their current cap situation. Currently, Vancouver has $15.49 million in cap space with 18 players signed. The team has ranked its lineup needs based on how much money they’re willing to invest in each position.
The most obvious need for the Canucks is a star top-six winger to play alongside Elias Pettersson. This position is crucial, and Vancouver should be willing to spend the necessary funds to secure a high-quality player.
Next on the list is a middle-of-the-lineup defenseman. Vancouver requires someone who can fill the No. 3/4/5 role effectively. In the 2023-24 season, the minutes were evenly distributed among the second and third defensive pairs. It remains to be seen if Nikita Zadorov could be a suitable candidate for this role.
The backup goalie situation is also intriguing. Reports suggest that Vancouver is considering bringing Casey DeSmith back, although he would come at a higher cost against the cap than RFA Arturs Silovs.
Additionally, the Canucks could benefit from adding a depth forward with upside. Despite re-signing Dakota Joshua, the team still needs to replace Ilya Mikheyev’s spot in the lineup. Pius Suter is currently slotted in as the third-line center, but this could change if the Canucks find a suitable replacement.
Finally, Vancouver should consider adding a cheap depth defenseman to compete for the No. 6/7/8 roles.
There are numerous options for the Canucks to explore in filling out their roster. Let’s consider a couple of hypothetical scenarios to illustrate the team’s cap flexibility.
In the first scenario, suppose the Canucks were successful in acquiring Jake Guentzel with a $9.5 million AAV contract. After this signing, Vancouver would have $5.99 million left over with 19 players signed. Re-signing Zadorov in this scenario would require significant financial maneuvering, potentially compromising depth and roster flexibility.
In the second hypothetical scenario, let’s assume the Canucks strike out on Guentzel and pursue a balanced approach. They could sign a $6.5 million winger, a $5 million defenseman, re-sign DeSmith, add a depth forward for $1 million, and sign a No. 6/7 defender for $1 million. This allocation of funds allows the team to secure impact players while still maintaining some flexibility.
Overall, the Canucks have ample cap space to make significant moves this offseason. It remains to be seen which areas of the roster they prioritize and where they believe they can find bargains. Fans can anticipate an exciting week ahead as Vancouver continues to shape its team for the upcoming season.