Canucks & NHL News, Rumours, and & Fantasy GM | 4 Nations Break Edition

[Jerry the great]

If the cost for Norris was effectively Boeser...either directly or indirectly, I think it's worth considering. Either direction we go in there will be risky. I'm not on board allocating $8MM to Norris in addition to parting with 1st round picks + promising young prospects on the right development curve.

Regardless of whether Norris is targeted, if we can't get Boeser re-signed to a deal that they can live with, maybe you try and replace him before the TDL. I could see management looking at a familiar face and taking a run at acquiring Rakell. He'd probably be a good fit in Vancouver. while not super fast, he's a solid skater who plays with a sense of urgency. grittier than one would think, he's not shy about getting into the paint and his contract has a lot of appeal with three more years at $5MM. Kinda weird to constantly be casting your line into the Pens pool, but whatever.

Buchnevich is a hard pass for me. everything is trending in the wrong direction for that player and paying a premium price to hope he can turn it around is an unappealing prospect. And it isn't like you can attribute any of it to having played a lot of hockey over the last few years; the Blues haven't played a playoff game since 2022. No idea if he's even available, but if he is, it would actually be a massive red flag for me.

 

[theguardianII]

If the cost for Norris was effectively Boeser...either directly or indirectly, I think it's worth considering. Either direction we go in there will be risky. I'm not on board allocating $8MM to Norris in addition to parting with 1st round picks + promising young prospects on the right development curve.

Regardless of whether Norris is targeted, if we can't get Boeser re-signed to a deal that they can live with, maybe you try and replace him before the TDL. I could see management looking at a familiar face and taking a run at acquiring Rakell. He'd probably be a good fit in Vancouver. while not super fast, he's a solid skater who plays with a sense of urgency. grittier than one would think, he's not shy about getting into the paint and his contract has a lot of appeal with three more years at $5MM. Kinda weird to constantly be casting your line into the Pens pool, but whatever.

Buchnevich is a hard pass for me. everything is trending in the wrong direction for that player and paying a premium price to hope he can turn it around is an unappealing prospect. And it isn't like you can attribute any of it to having played a lot of hockey over the last few years; the Blues haven't played a playoff game since 2022. No idea if he's even available, but if he is, it would actually be a massive red flag for me.

They could always pull another "Benning". Wait until the end of the season and then "we ran out of time" oh, ya, they did that already.

Best to whatever is needed to replace the stars, the 100+ pt players.

 

[TruGr1t]

The sub-30s centre market is pretty bleak and highly competitive, it seems. Not particularly interested in paying premiums on rehabilitation projects. Norris is interesting, but not sure he's actually available.

If you're looking at centres, it seems the veteran rental market may be the way to go targeting guys on 2-3 year deals to serve as temporary solutions while you draft a couple centre prospects.

Maybe some opportunities open up due to our cap space.

I think if we look at wingers it will be using the assets in a Boeser trade to try and replace him.

 

[Vector]

NHL Trade Talk

• Expects the Canucks to make more deals to reshape the roster
• Is hearing from other GMs that it will be a trade frenzy after the 4 Nations Tournament

Canucks Trade Talk

• Soucy trade talks Feels a little bit like spitballing an idea
• Is a fan of Mancini; thinks he’ll be a very good NHL player
• Most of the heavy lifting is done
• Probably going to need a centreman
• Difficult, across the league, to acquire a good young centreman
• Is not sure that Dylan Cozens is actually available
• Mentions the discussions with the Buffalo Sabres about Pettersson was centered around Cozens & Bowen Byram

Centre Market

• Puts Dylan Cozens as an outlier
• St. Louis Blues are gauging the market on Brayden Schenn
• Scott Laughton on the Flyers has a steep price; Briere wants a 1st round pick
• Thinks Ryan O’Reilly is an outlier as well
• Buyers outweigh the sellers for centres
• Fascinated by who is and isn’t available
• Mentions Nick Bjugstad (Utah HC) and Luke Kunin (Sharks)

Philadelphia Flyers

• The organization feels their fans are getting antsy and want to get back to contention quicker
• Want to be a big game hunter
• Wanted to clear up cap space for the off-season

Canucks’ Cap Space

• There will be teams coming out of the 4 Nations tournament that will decide they aren’t going to make the playoffs
• Puts the Canucks in a different market for players than other teams
• Don’t have to include players for salary matching purposes

Chytil

• Rangers’ had long-term concerns with his health; Canucks don’t share that concern yet

Boeser

• Don’t blame Boeser’s agent for playing hardball
• Will command a high dollar amount on the open market and more than the Canucks are willing to spend
• Is a disciple of the teachings of Rick Tocchet
• If Tocchet isn’t the coach or isn’t sure if Tocchet will be the coach, that will factor in to Boeser’s decision-making process
• Last time he checked in with Canucks management on Boeser, they told him the dust needed to settle after all the trades and to get through the 4 Nations tournament
• Doesn’t see a resolution anytime soon

 

[theguardianII]

The sub-30s centre market is pretty bleak and highly competitive, it seems. Not particularly interested in paying premiums on rehabilitation projects. Norris is interesting, but not sure he's actually available.

If you're looking at centres, it seems the veteran rental market may be the way to go targeting guys on 2-3 year deals to serve as temporary solutions while you draft a couple centre prospects.

Maybe some opportunities open up due to our cap space.

I think if we look at wingers it will be using the assets in a Boeser trade to try and replace him.

Norris has a pretty sad injury history. Even Chyrtil is a bit of a chance now. Cozens might not be a reclamation project, a change of linemates, icetime and being very young. Still maybe a chance but his youth might litigate that a bit.

Draft a couple of centers? A good idea and necessary need. McKenna and Misa could be available next year.
Wingers seem to be easier to replace, remember Baerstchi, AHL player then out on the top two lines and bingo, 25 goals.

The additional cap space could be used to get additional picks in three way deals with small market teams.

Hopefully management has a larger plan than just replace one player at a time. Certainly no need for 4 GM's if it just "one thing at a time" reactionary managing. Nothing wrong with being pro-active and having a plan.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

NHL Trade Talk

• Expects the Canucks to make more deals to reshape the roster
• Is hearing from other GMs that it will be a trade frenzy after the 4 Nations Tournament

Canucks Trade Talk

• Soucy trade talks Feels a little bit like spitballing an idea
• Is a fan of Mancini; thinks he’ll be a very good NHL player
• Most of the heavy lifting is done
• Probably going to need a centreman
• Difficult, across the league, to acquire a good young centreman
• Is not sure that Dylan Cozens is actually available
• Mentions the discussions with the Buffalo Sabres about Pettersson was centered around Cozens & Bowen Byram

Centre Market

• Puts Dylan Cozens as an outlier
• St. Louis Blues are gauging the market on Brayden Schenn
• Scott Laughton on the Flyers has a steep price; Briere wants a 1st round pick
• Thinks Ryan O’Reilly is an outlier as well
• Buyers outweigh the sellers for centres
• Fascinated by who is and isn’t available
• Mentions Nick Bjugstad (Utah HC) and Luke Kunin (Sharks)

Philadelphia Flyers

• The organization feels their fans are getting antsy and want to get back to contention quicker
• Want to be a big game hunter
• Wanted to clear up cap space for the off-season

Canucks’ Cap Space

• There will be teams coming out of the 4 Nations tournament that will decide they aren’t going to make the playoffs
• Puts the Canucks in a different market for players than other teams
• Don’t have to include players for salary matching purposes

Chytil

• Rangers’ had long-term concerns with his health; Canucks don’t share that concern yet

Boeser

• Don’t blame Boeser’s agent for playing hardball
• Will command a high dollar amount on the open market and more than the Canucks are willing to spend
• Is a disciple of the teachings of Rick Tocchet
• If Tocchet isn’t the coach or isn’t sure if Tocchet will be the coach, that will factor in to Boeser’s decision-making process
• Last time he checked in with Canucks management on Boeser, they told him the dust needed to settle after all the trades and to get through the 4 Nations tournament
• Doesn’t see a resolution anytime soon

Thanks as always for the write ups.

I think a decision on Boeser needs to be made by the deadline. I just think letting him walk for nothing in free agency is really counterproductive. Either extend him, or decide you're moving on and recoup assets for him.

 

[JT Milker]

They’re not going to trade Boeser if we’re in a playoff spot at the deadline unless it brings in someone to replace him.

 

[Hodgy]

Thanks as always for the write ups.

I think a decision on Boeser needs to be made by the deadline. I just think letting him walk for nothing in free agency is really counterproductive. Either extend him, or decide you're moving on and recoup assets for him.

Ya, the Canucks don’t really have the assets to treat him as their own rental. We either need him back next year at a reasonable rate, or we need to parlay the assets we get from him at the deadline into a top six forward.

 

[StickShift]

I just can’t see the Canucks having an interest in Norris given his shoulder injuries when they’re already taking a depth risk on Chytil’s health.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

If a deal is not in place with Boeser by the TDL, you only keep him as a "rental" if:

• EP reverts to 100pt EP after the 4 Nations
• Hughes heals enough for the home stretch and playoffs

If one or both of these are off the table, you have to deal Brock.

Not getting any assets for a legit Top 6 F who is a pending UFA is idiotic.

 

[Nick Lang]

Yah I agree completely.........people seem like they pretty much ready to give him away.

On most nights in his very limited minutes he's been very noticeable........for the right reasons. He's really been able to create something out of nothing often with not the most talented linemates. We will see come playoffs but there are other guys I'd look to move before him.

We need cap space to improve the team. Hoglander is the most expendable forward asset making $ and not playing a premium position, unless you want to move Garland or Sherwood.

Petey, Debrusk, Chytil, O'Conner, and Joshua (no value) are going nowhere. Blueger, Karlsson, and Aman would need to be replaced with equal money. Suter is UFA but we would need another 3C with that $$ already. If you're trying to improve the roster he's the obvious trade chip other than Boeser, who would also need his $$ to replace his production.

Can't just keep everyone if you're trying to make the team better.

I don't think they're prioritizing another center, and certainly not a 2C.
Chytil is their guy, been buried in new York and now the clear next up to EP1, so maybe prepare for disappointment (or a winger) if expecting an upgrade to Chytil.


The list of available decent to real good wingers is pretty long, so who they'll target idk yet but got so much cap space I expect them to somehow utilize most/all of it.

Should make for a pretty crazy next four weeks either way.

100% agree. We cant just carry a backup 2C for $8 mil on the roster. It's hilarious how some people think.

 

[Peen]

Pace. Team speed. Just thinking out loud about the Lekkerimaki convo. If you bring back Boeser, just need to be considerate of the other guys you have signed to big money in your top nine and if they have size and/or speed to mitigate and balance the roster out.

I’m not saying you can’t have both players… it just means you have to shuffle the cards around them a bit.

 

[rypper]

Draft a couple of centers? A good idea and necessary need. McKenna and Misa could be available next year.

Mckenna is currently ranked to go 1st overall in 2026, and Misa is top 3 for this year. The Canucks should just decide to draft one of them to flush out their center depth.

Certainly no need for 4 GM's if it just "one thing at a time" reactionary managing.

It's crazy how they all do the same job and nobody has specialized areas of expertise. Seems wasteful!

 

[Jerry the great]

I just can’t see the Canucks having an interest in Norris given his shoulder injuries when they’re already taking a depth risk on Chytil’s health.

I can see the Canucks having interest if the acquisition cost is very low; if there is truth to the rumors that Norris has been shopped all year, he may cost very little to acquire.

For example, if the Sens had an appetite for either Hoglander, Boeser or Soucy and one of the latter two were willing to go there, I can see them rolling the dice. If the ask is Lekkerimaki + our 1st, it makes no sense.


Another shoulder injury and he's probably a negative value asset, so Staois could be getting close to the point where he'd rather have the cap space than the stress of hoping Norris doesn't get hurt every time he leans on someone or vice versa.

Maybe hoping that Hoglander can get back to producing like he did last year and contemplating how to allocate an extra $5MM in cap space would be preferable. Maybe he also gets to think about who to select with our 2nd round pick.

That said, injury issues aside, Norris is kind of exactly what the team is looking for. Elite skating C with size who plays a hard 200 foot game. Absent the injury history and availability risk, Josh Norris on that contract would be unavailable.

 

[Jroach]

If Boeser is "playing hardball", just get whatever you can for him.

Can't afford to have a player trying to extort us for top dollar at this point, when you see a guy like Marcus Pettersson taking a market discount to play here.

 

[VancouverJagger]

We need cap space to improve the team. Hoglander is the most expendable forward asset making $ and not playing a premium position, unless you want to move Garland or Sherwood.

Petey, Debrusk, Chytil, O'Conner, and Joshua (no value) are going nowhere. Blueger, Karlsson, and Aman would need to be replaced with equal money. Suter is UFA but we would need another 3C with that $$ already. If you're trying to improve the roster he's the obvious trade chip other than Boeser, who would also need his $$ to replace his production.

Can't just keep everyone if you're trying to make the team better.

Cap space isn't a huge concern right now..........To move Hogs and his 3 mill salary simply to clear cap is pretty dumb imo and there's a reason why he hasn't been moved until now..........The time to trade him would have been BEFORE he signed his extension after he had his 20 something goals..........I would have been totally onboard then as he had solid value........now I doubt he's worth more than a 2nd.......if that

Clear cap with Soucy..........not Hogs

 

[ManVanFan]

Centers in the NHL. I wouldn't be trading a 1st round pick for many because trying to find a good center might be harder than finding a #4 D these days. I'd draft one if available even in this weaker draft.

I'd look at Peyton Krebs, Jack McBain, Isac Lundestrom, Morgan Geekie. You are getting more of a Blueger type center from all those players but younger and I don't think you'd have to spend as much to acquire them then some other names like Kunin, Bjugstad.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Centers in the NHL. I wouldn't be trading a 1st round pick for many because trying to find a good center might be harder than finding a #4 D these days. I'd draft one if available even in this weaker draft.

I'd look at Peyton Krebs, Jack McBain, Isac Lundestrom, Morgan Geekie. You are getting more of a Blueger type center from all those players but younger and I don't think you'd have to spend as much to acquire them then some other names like Kunin, Bjugstad.

I want the Nucks to draft O'Brien. Need to fill up the coffers through the draft similar to what they have done with the defense.

 

[Jroach]

The more I think about it, the more I want that moustached goof Forsberg.

I think he'd fit in really well here, and I'd pay the price to get him.

 

[ManVanFan]

I want the Nucks to draft O'Brien. Need to fill up the coffers through the draft similar to what they have done with the defense.

I doubt he would fall that far but personally from the times I've seen him, I'm not so sure about him. He gives me Gab Vilardi vibes. Which isn't bad or anything, I just don't know if he's a center in the NHL like Vilardi. In the mid round range I'd be looking for Braeden Cootes, Brady Martin or Jack Nesbitt.

 

[krutovsdonut]

Thanks as always for the write ups.

I think a decision on Boeser needs to be made by the deadline. I just think letting him walk for nothing in free agency is really counterproductive. Either extend him, or decide you're moving on and recoup assets for him.

if dreger is correct and the canucks are still putting boeser off and want to get through the 4 nations tourney and see how the trades unfold suggests to me they are thinking like a playoff team and he only gets moved if they can make the team better now even if he walks this summer. that's going to be by repurposing the assets he returns because you have to think nobody trading for boeser as a pure rental is going to pay a better win now asset than boeser. hard to do.

it certainly makes sense to move boeser if they can replace him now with a player with term they want. it does not necessarily make sense to trade him and add a rental. boeser is the kind of player they would go get as a rental. he's also a glue guy for a dressing room that needs glue.

without any evidence at all, i think they will be kicking the tires on rust and rakell. two cheap productive rh wingers signed for a couple of years that this group knows and fit the sweden/penguin pattern. they are a little old for this core, but so was jt. neither of them are going to be traded with boeser going back, but they could trade boeser for futures and flip part of the return.

it could also be they are going to try and parlay boeser into a centre. i don't know how they would do that directly and i have no feel for what centres they might be after. i think more likely they try to pre-replace suter with a low profile guy with term they get cheap.

 

[aregora]

Claude Giroux, I will again beat the drum for. RHC who wins draws, great 200 ft player, aging out, one more kick at the can in a Canadian market as a veteran presence who has the same agent as EP40.

It smells of Doug Weight at the 2006 TDL. Don't think it will happen, but a man whose been as wrong as I have can dream at least?

I get the appeal of Giroux. But I don't think that one happens::
- Ottawa is currently dealing with injuries to their centers and need him to keep winning.
- They are also in the first wild card spot and their new owner is probably eager to get back to the playoffs.

And I feel like our premium assets (1st rounder, Lekk, Willander) would only get used for a younger player who can be part of the core moving forward. And Giroux is 37 years old. (Yes, I recognize they gave up the first rounder last year for a "rental" but I don't know if the plan was for Lindholm to always be a rental. Plus doing it two years in a row is another thing, especially if only in a wild card spot.)

 

[Bleach Clean]

I would much rather pay the premium for Tuch (Lekk or a 1st) than rent Greenway.

Tuch has size and skates. He is among the top in the league for distance covered and has decent speed too. He would be a great fit alongside Pettersson.

This team generally needs to get bigger up front and exchanging one of our diminutive skilled forwards for a large power forward should be a no brainer.

That being said. No interest in Greenway. He has size but barely covers the ice with hardly any speed. He would be a 4th line plug on this team.

I like Tuch, just not at the expense of Lekkerimaki.

For a team that was already short on skill pre-Miller trade, Lekkerimaki is all the more important. That near potential is worth more than a 1 year rental.

They may as well trade their 1st for Tuch instead.

I would trade Lek for Tuch yes. But I’m also not pencilling Lek into the NHL roster next year.

Ah, so you don't think he makes the team.

Well, that would definitely have him as trade bait.

 

[Bleach Clean]

if dreger is correct and the canucks are still putting boeser off and want to get through the 4 nations tourney and see how the trades unfold suggests to me they are thinking like a playoff team and he only gets moved if they can make the team better now even if he walks this summer. that's going to be by repurposing the assets he returns because you have to think nobody trading for boeser as a pure rental is going to pay a better win now asset than boeser. hard to do.

it certainly makes sense to move boeser if they can replace him now with a player with term they want. it does not necessarily make sense to trade him and add a rental. boeser is the kind of player they would go get as a rental. he's also a glue guy for a dressing room that needs glue.

without any evidence at all, i think they will be kicking the tires on rust and rakell. two cheap productive rh wingers signed for a couple of years that this group knows and fit the sweden/penguin pattern. they are a little old for this core, but so was jt. neither of them are going to be traded with boeser going back, but they could trade boeser for futures and flip part of the return.

it could also be they are going to try and parlay boeser into a centre. i don't know how they would do that directly and i have no feel for what centres they might be after. i think more likely they try to pre-replace suter with a low profile guy with term they get cheap.

Agreed on so many fronts.

Boeser is worth just as much to them as another rental would be. If they do move him, it's likely for a longer termed fit.

I liked Rust as a target, but I get the sense they're trying not to block Lekkerimaki, as they're trying not to block Willander. A spot opens up if Boeser gets dealt though.

Listening to OTT podcasts, they want Boeser. Has to be a cap in-cap out scenario.

Suter is like Garland here. Probably Tocchet's 2nd favourite forward. He's staying imo.

 

[Nick Lang]

I don't know why everyone is packaging Lekk... he's going to be our Boeser replacement.

What would it take to get Tuch from the Sabres?

Lekkerimaki?