Vancouver Canucks To Officially Lose Signing Rights to One of Their Top Prospects
Photo credit: University of North Dakota.
The Vancouver Canucks are set to officially lose the signing rights to one of their forward prospects later this month and he could become an unrestricted free agent at the NHL level.
Every single year on August 15th, numerous college prospects that have completed their fourth year in the NCAA are eligible to become free agents in the NHL, with the team that drafted them losing their signing rights if they're not under contract by that.
Last summer, the Vancouver Canucks found themselves in this situation as they lost the exclusive signings rights to forward Jack Malone and goaltender Matthew Thiessen.
This time around, Patrik Allvin and the Canucks are set to lose the signing rights to another player however there's a bit of a twist when it comes to this forward prospect.
Vancouver Canucks to officially lose signings rights to forward prospect this month
Back in July, PuckPedia released a list of prospects that can become free agents if they're not signed to an entry-level contract by the team that drafted them by Friday, August 15th.
Among those on the list included Vancouver Canucks forward prospect Jackson Kunz, who the club selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
"The signing deadline for prospects graduating from NCAA programs after four years is August 15th. Assuming they were scheduled to graduate at the end of the current season, the following players are eligible to become unrestricted free agents after August 15, 2025:
VAN Jackson Kunz* 2020 RD4, #113 Overall
* Players who have already signed professional contracts for 2025-26 but remain free to sign an NHL contract with any team." PuckPedia said.
VAN Jackson Kunz* 2020 RD4, #113 Overall
* Players who have already signed professional contracts for 2025-26 but remain free to sign an NHL contract with any team." PuckPedia said.
While the Vancouver Canucks may lose the exclusive signing rights to Jackson Kunz in two weeks, he isn't going anywhere, at least not for the 2025-26 season as the 22-year-old is making the jump to professional hockey in British Columbia.
Back in March, the Abbotsford Canucks signed Kunz to a one-year American Hockey League contract for the 2025-26 campaign, which will give the team's management group a bit of time to decide if they want to sign him to an NHL deal, although by next spring, there could be other teams interested in the Grand Forks, North Dakota native.
In 36 games with the University of North Dakota this past season, Kunz put up 15 points (seven goals, eight assists), 21 penalty minutes and was a plus-seven, before going on to add one assist in his professional hockey debut with Abbotsford on April 16th.
Source: PuckPedia
NHL Draft Pick Rights Set to Expire Aug 15
NHL Draft Pick Rights Set to Expire Aug 15
| POLL | ||
AOUT 1 | 1252 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks To Officially Lose Signing Rights to One of Their Top Prospects Do you think the Vancouver Canucks will sign Jackson Kunz to an ELC after his first pro season in Abbotsford? | ||
| Yes | 650 | 51.9 % |
| No | 602 | 48.1 % |
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