The Canucks have clearly identified the need for a 3rd line centerman as a top priority heading into this off-season. With their current salary cap situation, the Canucks already have things to achieve.
While the initial thought was that the Canucks would be shopping in Free Agency once they had dropped some salary, Rick Dhaliwal revealed that the Canucks may have been observing a different alternative.
Based on the idea that their prime moving target is Conor Garland, who'll be carrying a $4.95M AAV for 3 more years, the Canucks are going to be looking at potential replacements with similar AAVs.
In that line of thought, centermen with similar AAVs and remaining contracts to Garland that could fit the bill: Jean-Gabriel Pageau (New York Islanders 3 years x $5.0M), Christian Dvorak (Montreal Canadiens 2 years x $4.45M), could be two alternatives.
The Canucks could also be aiming, as they've stated before, at upcoming restricted free agents that have either, not yet panned out, or will not be able to re-sign due to cap issues. Michael Rasmussen (Detroit), Isaac Lunderstrom (Anaheim), Tyson Jost (Buffalo), Ryan McLeod (Edmonton).
Anyways, this shift in mentality just opened up a whole new set of possibilities for the Canucks, while it may not get them a centerman as good or efficient as Ivan Barbashev (Who's expected to enter free-agency on July 1st). It would prevent the Canucks from overpaying for yet another player.
