Former Art Ross Trophy Winner Among Potential Free Agent Options for Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks are going to be quite busy this summer on both the free agent and trade markets as Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford try to improve this roster ahead of the 2025-26 season.

After missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth time in the last five seasons, the Vancouver Canucks are hoping that next season will be different and that with a few additions this summer, they can make a deep postseason run.

If the Vancouver Canucks decide to go down the free agent route to improve their roster for depth purposes, there certainly won't a shortage of solid options for Patrik Allvin to consider.

Noah Strang of Daily Hive took a look at some of those depth options, primarily veterans the Vancouver Canucks could add and the biggest name on there, if he makes it to the open market, is Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn.

Benn, a native of Victoria, British Columbia, is currently in his 16th season in the National Hockey League, all of which have come with the Dallas Stars, who are about to begin their third straight appearance in the Western Conference Final.

While Benn's production may have dropped off in the last couple of seasons, going from 78 points in 2022-23 to 49 points this year, there's still a lot he can offer an NHL team, none bigger than being a veteran presence in a dressing room that needs someone like that desperately, such as the Vancouver Canucks.

Among the other options mentioned by Noah Strang include Brandon Tanev - brother of former Vancouver Canucks defenseman Chris Tanev, 2023 Stanley Cup champion Reilly Smith and former Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux.

If this past season has taught us anything, especially with the J.T. Miller-Elias Pettersson rift, this team is in need of a veteran leader in that dressing room.

That player needs to be someone who can motivate the group, rally everyone together when they need to lock in and brings experience, which will be helpful if the team manages to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs next Spring.

Source: Daily Hive/Noah Strang
7 veteran free agents Vancouver Canucks could sign to help lead dressing room