Dhaliwal provides update on contract negotiations between Canucks & Hronek

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Cooper Godin
June 14, 2024 (12:11)

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Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin has his hands full over the coming weeks as he navigates contract discussions between some of his pending free agents, including Filip Hronek.

Hronek is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1st and talks continue between the two sides to work out a deal as he's reportedly the Canucks' top priority right now, for good reason.

On Thursday, Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie & Dhali provided an update on contract negotiaions between the Canucks and Hronek's camp and said that the two sides remain far apart, but the team is wanting to get him signed relatively soon.

Dhaliwal added that both sides have a 'safety valve' of salary arbitration over the summer, but that's something the Canucks would like to avoid given how well Hronek played, especially during the first half of the season. If it were to go to salary arbitration, Hronek would have a pretty good case, which he could win and get a salary a lot more the Canucks are wanting to spend.

"They do want to sign him but they're far apart...the safety valve is arbitration. The Canucks won't like it because the arbitration case is really strong for Hronek." Dhaliwal said.

Hronek, a native of Hradec Kralove, Czechia, had a great first full season with the Vancouver Canucks and set new career highs in assists and points while primarily playing with captain Quinn Hughes. In 81 games, Hronek recorded 48 points (five goals, 43 assists), 38 penalty minutes and was a plus-32. However in the playoffs, his production wasn't nearly as good as the Canucks needed it to be, only putting up two points in 13 games.

Re-signing Filip Hronek is a must for the Vancouver Canucks. When he's at the top of his game, as we saw in the first half of the season, he can be a top-20 defenceman in the NHL. But if the asking price is still too high in a week or two, it wouldn't be shocking to see Patrik Allvin start to explore trade options, as was reported last week.

Do you think the Canucks will get Filip Hronek signed before the draft on June 28th? Let us know your thoughts in the poll below.