The Vancouver Canucks have inked one of their restricted free agents, signing Markus Granlund to a one-year $1.475MM contract. Granlund was set to hit RFA status with arbitration rights, and will still be a restricted free agent when the deal expires.
The 25-year old forward hasn’t fulfilled the promise he showed early in his Vancouver career, and finished this season with just 12 points while serving a diminished role. Under the previous coaching staff Granlund was given the opportunity to more minutes and in an offensive role, but was limited to a checking unit for most of the season under head coach Travis Green. He was deployed much less frequently on the powerplay, and instead took up a key penalty killing role for the team. Granlund has never been known for his defensive presence though, and it’s not clear if he can really grow into that role for the Canucks going forward.
A two-year contract would have taken Granlund to free agency in the summer of 2020, but this deal will give him one more chance to prove he can be part of the solution in Vancouver. The team is building around a new forward core including Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson, and will need quality role players to fill out the rest of the group. If Granlund can show some level of improved production despite his position lower in the lineup, or demonstrate himself to be an excellent defensive option, there is a place for him going forward. Otherwise, his career may not be long for Vancouver.
With a $1.475MM contract he is getting a substantial raise over the $900K he earned in 2017-18, but it shouldn’t dramatically affect the Canucks’ salary structure. The team still has plenty of cap room and with Daniel and Henrik Sedin coming off the books should be in a good financial position going forward. Though they may not spend the entire $25MM of cap space this summer, new deals will have to be struck sooner or later with players like Boeser, Alexander Edler and Chris Tanev, if they are to be part of the organization long-term. Granlund would like to add his name to that group, but he’ll need to find some of the magic that turned into 19 goals in 2016-17 to do it.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Excellent “Show me” contract. Had a good year two years ago, an injury year last year, and now it’s time to make a decision if this guy is part of the future.
His “good” year 2 years ago, his shooting percentage was a ridiculous 15.6. Unsustainable, to say the least.
Ok, then it wasn’t a good year at all…terrible year. 19 goals and they all sucked.
Are the live chats ever coming back?
Don’t tell anyone (or do) but they’ll be making their return on the morning of July 1st.
Sweet! Just figured I’d ask what with it being draft day and all I didn’t know if you’d do one today. Start of free agency sounds good too though, that’s one of my favorite days of the NHL year.