The Canucks are among the teams interested in UFA center Jayce Hawryluk, reports Thomas Drance of The Athletic (Twitter link) who suggests that talks are heading in a positive direction. However, Rick Dhaliwal of TSN 1040 and The Athletic adds (via Twitter) that there are still other teams vying for Hawryluk’s services.
The 24-year-old split last season between Florida and Ottawa with a brief stop at AHL Springfield as well. He had a very limited role with the Panthers, playing in just 15 games before being waived and claimed by the Senators in mid-February. The change of scenery worked wonders for Hawryluk as his playing time jumped up to 13 minutes a game while he chipped in with two goals and five assists in 11 contests before the pandemic shut down the rest of the season.
Despite that, Ottawa declined to tender a qualifying offer to Hawrlyuk last week. The offer would have been for just over $917K but would have given him salary arbitration rights which was something the Sens clearly didn’t want to go through with him.
Vancouver is a team that looks like they’ll have to clear out some salary in the coming weeks and months to free up room for new deals for Jake Virtanen and Adam Gaudette so they will need some cheap options at the end of the roster. If they’re able to agree to terms with Hawryluk, he could contend for one of those openings while still perhaps providing a little bit of offensive upside.
Sutter is all but gone
When?
Where?
If they get another C (say this dude) there is no need for Sutter and they can buy him out to save $2mil