Vancouver Canucks Set to Lose Exclusive Signing Rights to One of Their Top Prospects
Photo credit: Farjestad BK/SHL
The Vancouver Canucks are set to lose the exclusive signing rights to at least one, potentially two of their prospects, leaving Patrik Allvin with a big decision to make before Sunday, June 1st.
June 1st is a date to watch in the National Hockey League every year as some teams will have the exclusive signing rights of one or more of their prospects expire, making them unrestricted free agents.
Last year, the Vancouver Canucks lost the signing rights to Swedish defenseman Viktor Persson, who has spent the last three years in Europe and this year, Patrik Allvin has a big decision to make as two more prospects are set to become free agents if they're not signed by the club by the June 1st deadline.
Vancouver Canucks lose rights to one, potentially two European prospects
On Wednesday, Adam Kierszenblat of The Hockey News pointed out that the Vancouver Canucks will lose the rights to prospects Lucas Forsell and Hugo Gabrielson if Patrik Allvin doesn't sign either player by that aforementioned deadline at 2 pm PT.
"If the #Canucks want to keep the rights of Lucas Forsell and Hugo Gabrielson, they must sign them within the next 10 days. They will come off Vancouver's reserve list on June 1, 2025." Adam Kierszenblat said on X.
Both prospects are under contract overseas in Europe, as according to Ryan Hall of Canucks Army, they both signed extensions in 2024, with Lucas Forsell inking a three-year deal with Farjestad BK (SHL), while Hugo Gabrielson put pen to paper on a two-year extension with the Nybro Vikings IF (HockeyAllsvenskan).
"While those deals will typically include an out clause (details not included), both players somewhat recently signed extensions overseas.
Lucas Forsell signed a three-year deal with Farjestad in January, 2024. While Hugo Gabrielson signed a two-year extension back in November." Dave Hall said.
Lucas Forsell signed a three-year deal with Farjestad in January, 2024. While Hugo Gabrielson signed a two-year extension back in November." Dave Hall said.
Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie & Dhali confirmed a short while later that the Vancouver Canucks will not be signing 2021 seventh-round pick Lucas Forsell, who plays in the Swedish Hockey League, and he'll become a free agent here in North America in a little over a week.
"It does not appear the #Canucks will be offering Lucas Forsell a contract." Dhaliwal said.
Forsell, 21, appeared in 46 regular season games for Farjestad BK during the 2024-25 campaign, registering nine points (four goals, five assists), while going point-less in six postseason contests.
The Vasteras, Sweden native also helped Farjestad BK reach the Final of the 2024-25 Champions Hockey League, putting up five points in 13 games, as they fell to Swiss club ZSC Lions.
As for Gabrielson, he was a sixth-round pick of the Canucks back in 2021 and has spent the last four seasons in the HockeyAllsvenskan, the second tier of professional hockey in Sweden.
This past season, his first with the Nybro Vikings IF, the blueliner had 26 points (five goals, 21 assists), 38 penalty minutes and was a plus-four.
While Forsell's fate with the Vancouver Canucks organization appears to be decided, as per Rick Dhaliwal, Patrik Allvin should seriously consider signing Hugo Gabrielson to an entry-level contract, which could include a European Assignment Clause to allow him to play for Nybro in 2025-26.
| POLL | ||
MAI 21 | 1105 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks Set to Lose Exclusive Signing Rights to One of Their Top Prospects Are you disappointed that the Vancouver Canucks won't be signing prospect Lucas Forsell? | ||
| Yes | 251 | 22.7 % |
| No | 854 | 77.3 % |
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