Vancouver Canucks Have Found Their Replacement for Brock Boeser, But Haven't Pulled the Trigger Yet
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As the Vancouver Canucks prepare for a future without forward Brock Boeser, some potential replacements have been named that Patrik Allvin could target on the trade market.
It's going to be a busy summer for the Vancouver Canucks as General Manager Patrik Allvin and President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford weigh their options on the trade and free agent markets in order to upgrade their roster and make a push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs next April.
Everyone knows by now that the Vancouver Canucks will be looking for a second line centerman, but they'll more than likely be searching for a top-six winger too following a report last week from David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period who said that a source informed him Brock Boeser is a longshot to re-sign with the Vancouver Canucks.
"The focus in Vancouver seems to be centred around adding more offence up front and replacing Brock Boeser, who will become an unrestricted free agent this summer." Pagnotta said.
He added, "Boeser, 28, is a "longshot" to re-sign with the Canucks, one team source confirmed to me this week. He is prepared to move on to the next chapter of his career and will attract significant interest this summer, especially given the limited market."
He added, "Boeser, 28, is a "longshot" to re-sign with the Canucks, one team source confirmed to me this week. He is prepared to move on to the next chapter of his career and will attract significant interest this summer, especially given the limited market."
Former Stanley Cup champion emerges as target for the Vancouver Canucks
Finding someone that can replace Brock Boeser's production won't be an easy task, nor will it be easy to find someone that could come cheap either in free agency or through a trade.
Several options have come to the forefront in recent weeks including Nikolaj Ehlers of the Winnipeg Jets, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st and if Patrik Allvin were to go down the free agent route, there's no doubt he would be a top target for the organization, but they'd also be competing with at least 15-20 other teams for his services.
However, if they were to look at the trade market, there could be a number of intriguing players the club could target including Bryan Rust of the Pittsburgh Penguins, as suggested by as suggested by Harman Dayal and Thomas Drance of The Athletic.
"Rust's no-movement clause will expire on July 1, and the rebuilding Penguins could look to cash in on the veteran winger's value.
He would be a terrific on-ice fit for the Canucks, but there's a risk that you'd be buying too high on an older, oft-injured player who's coming off a season where his 16.2 percent shooting clip was above his career norms and could modestly regress." Dayal and Drance said.
He would be a terrific on-ice fit for the Canucks, but there's a risk that you'd be buying too high on an older, oft-injured player who's coming off a season where his 16.2 percent shooting clip was above his career norms and could modestly regress." Dayal and Drance said.
Rust, a native of Pontiac, Michigan, has spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Penguins and is coming off the best season he's had, doing so at the age of 32 (turned 33 in May), registering 65 points (31 goals, 34 assists), 18 penalty minutes and was a minus-21 in 71 games.
In each of the last six seasons, Rust has tallied at least 20 goals and even if he does regress a bit in the years ahead, he would be a great option for Vancouver at right wing on the second line - Brock Boeser's old position.
The 33-year-old has three years remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $5.125 million and with some slight retention (10-15 percent), could be a good fit in Vancouver and there is some familiarity with the Canucks organization as Rust knows Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford from their time with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Source: Harman Dayal & Thomas Drance/The Athletic
Canucks trade targets: 14 top-six forwards who could boost Vancouver's attack
Canucks trade targets: 14 top-six forwards who could boost Vancouver's attack
| POLL | ||
JUIN 1 | 1206 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks Have Found Their Replacement for Brock Boeser, But Haven't Pulled the Trigger Yet Should the Vancouver Canucks try to trade for Bryan Rust? | ||
| Yes | 451 | 37.4 % |
| No | 755 | 62.6 % |
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