Fate of Vancouver Canucks' Top Offseason Target Has Just Been Confirmed

The Vancouver Canucks are planning on being aggressive on the free agent and trade markets this summer, with Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford looking to upgrade certain areas of their roster and fills holes that will be vacated by unrestricted free agents of their own.

In the last few weeks, a number of potential free agent targets have been mentioned for Allvin and Rutherford to consider including Marcus Johansson of the Minnesota Wild, but on Monday, the Vancouver Canucks found out their fate with the Swedish forward.

Less than a month until he was set to hit the open market, the Minnesota Wild and Marcus Johansson have worked out an agreement to keep the 34-year-old in the State of Hockey.

On Monday morning, the Minnesota Wild announced that they've re-signed Marcus Johansson to a one-year contract for the 2025-26 season worth $800,000 USD.

Johansson, a native of Landskrona, Sweden, appeared in 72 games this past season for the Wild where he put up 34 points - which is his most in a single campaign since 2016-17 - along with 12 penalty minutes and was a minus-seven.

After Minnesota was eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Johansson headed to Sweden to represent his nation on home ice at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, helping them to a bronze medal while registering eight points (four goals, four assists) in nine games.

With Marcus Johansson now off the board and staying with the Minnesota Wild, General Manager Patrik Allvin and the Vancouver Canucks will have to pivot and look at other players they could target this summer, perhaps someone like Bryan Rust of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who could land on the trade block in the weeks ahead.

Source: Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild Signs Marcus Johansson to a One-year Contract