June 27th, 2024
Zach Mason
Well, well, well! Would you look at the time, we’re right at the start of the offseason! A favourite of Monday Morning GMs from West Vancouver to Western Europe, the Canucks are a team with many difficult decisions to make. Fresh off a second-round exit to the Stanley Cup finalist Edmonton Oilers (Vamos y Gracias Gatos), after a regular season that greatly exceeded expectations, the front office of Vancouver has decisions to make in the Goaltending, the Defense, and a group of new arrivals at risk of being half-season rentals. Normally I’d be one to let the experts show their expertise, but I thought I’d give this NHL GM business the old college try.
Before getting into the real fun, let’s begin by talking about the people who are to stay put in Vancouver.
Arturs Silovs - 2yr/$1m AAV: If this wasn’t one of the first signings made this offseason then the Canucks may be up a creek without a paddle. Silovs went from AHL starter to arguably the only player who performed in Game 7 of a playoff series inside a month, and decided Thatcher Demko’s understudy the easiest one of the offseason. And also it may or may not give me a chance to play matchmaker, so that’s always a plus ;).
Dakota Joshua - 3yr/$3.4m AAV: Having a breakout season under Rick Tocchet last season is being rewarded with a shiny new contract for next season. Whilst it may seem like an overpay for a player on the third line, it’s worth noting that his partnership with Conor Garland helped to create some of the best forward lines in the NHL last season, so keeping those two together allows for key depth to flourish.
Nikita Zadorov - 5yr/$4.5m AAV: I’ll admit this one looks more and more like wishful thinking with each day that passes, but I felt that at least one of the new boys acquired in the Calgary trades, and Zadorov seemed to be a much better fit than Lindholm within the locker room (striking Evander Kane so hard he ended up licking his teammates skate laces absolutely did not hurt). I’ll admit that I’m relying on the reports that Zadorov enjoys living in Hollywood North for this contract, but if the cards get played right elsewhere this contract is plausible.
Not a whole lot of business was done on this end, I looked at a few trades surrounding the freshly extended Filip Hronek and a few RHDs on the market (namely Boston’s Brandon Carlo & Columbus’ David Jiricek), but nothing captured my attention enough to risk such a high profile manoeuvre.
Henri Jokiharju (BUF) for Max Sasson, Ilya Mikheyev, ‘24 6th (SJS), ‘25 5th (VAN): Perhaps more of a prototype than a concrete move, it’s become clear that Mikheyev could do with a change of scenery. Jokiharju is the type of 2nd/3rd pairing RHD that the Canucks coaching staff has had success developing in the past. While the trade may require a few more prospects or more value in the draft capital, I believe it’s an important move to make, creating space for some later, ‘win now’ splashes.
Now for the fun part, the big (and small) money deals to lure marquee signings to your team, risking a big-time whiff for a chance at a franchise-defining home run hit.
Jani Hakanpää (DAL) - 2yr/$1.2m AAV: Not the flashiest signing, but an NHL-level RHD who could move up to the second pairing and replace Jokijarju if necessary. This move also allows Noah Juulsen to be the teams 7th defenseman, a spot that could allow for more planning & coaching to hide the flaws that plagued his NHL career thus far.
Jake DeBrusk (BOS) - 5yr/$5.8m AAV: Personally, I think you’d struggle to find a better player for this Canucks team, physical, good forechecker, and able to annoy the Albertan rivals. DeBrusk has also shown a scoring ability that can potentially be amplified playing alongside JT Miller on the Canucks 2nd line, though even if he doesn’t the system fit is too good to pass on.
Jake Guentzel (CAR) - 8yr/$8.6m AAV: Don’t panic, you haven’t been sent back to early February. Whilst the Canucks missed out on Guentzel when he moved from Pittsburgh to Carolina last season, there are a few signs that point to an opportunity for a second bite at the cherry. Firstly, the relationships built with Rutherford, Allvin, and Tocchet all appear to be positive, and they have shown a willingness to resign past players, especially if they were to fit into the Tocchet style of play like Guentzel does. Secondly, reports have come out that Vancouver was ‘high on Guentzel’s list’ of trade destinations before he was dealt to Carolina, so those two, plus a trade of a 2026 5th round pick for his player rights from Carolina (to allow more negotiation time)
Now I might be a bit biased, but I’m quite happy with how this offseason played out. The forward core got a revamp, to arguably one of the top 5 in the National Hockey League, thanks to the acquisitions of Guentzel and DeBrusk, plus the removal of dead wood in Ilya Mikheyev. The defence, headlined by Norris finalist Quinn Hughes and freshly extended partner in crime Filip Hronek, has some added depth, and the goaltending pairing continues to be proof that Ian Clark(e?) is a wizard, with both shot-stoppers being homegrown products. Be sure to come back to this space in 8 months, when every move I suggest ages like milk, as is to be expected in this crazy sport we pretend to know and question why we love.