While the majority of unrestricted free agent activity has already happened, there are a handful of players of some significance still looking for new homes. But at this point, some teams will need to free up cap space if they want to add anyone off the open market. It appears the Canucks are one of those as Thomas Drance of The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that Vancouver is monitoring a couple of players still on the open market and are actively working to open up cap space before they could sign one.
The Canucks have been busy in recent weeks but a lot of their moves have been to either re-sign pending free agents or signing players to early extensions that kick in starting in 2026-27. In the former category, blueliner Derek Forbort was re-signed last month to a one-year, $2MM pact while winger Brock Boeser inked a seven-year, $50.75MM contract just as free agency opened up. Meanwhile, winger Conor Garland (six years, $36MM) and goaltender Thatcher Demko (three years, $25.5MM) inked extensions on the first day they were eligible.
Meanwhile, there hasn’t been a lot of roster turnover from last season. Vancouver picked up winger Evander Kane from Edmonton in a cap-clearing move from the Oilers while losing center Pius Suter to St. Louis and defenseman Noah Juulsen to Philadelphia in free agency. They also recently moved goaltender Arturs Silovs to Pittsburgh, knowing they were going to lose him on waivers in the fall.
But for the most part, the bulk of the core group remains intact from last season, one that saw them lose 19 points in the standings, going from winning the Pacific Division in 2023-24 to finishing fifth last season, missing the playoffs altogether.
However, if GM Patrik Allvin wants to add to his roster, he will definitely need to open up some extra cap flexibility while their current roster flexibility is somewhat limited as well. Per PuckPedia, the Canucks have just $795K in cap space which doesn’t leave much wiggle room for in-season injury recalls let alone other moves.
Who could be moved is a matter of some question, however. Center Teddy Blueger is in the final year of his deal at an affordable $1.8MM cap hit but he outperformed his contract a year ago so he might not be someone they want to move. Nils Hoglander begins a new three-year, $9MM deal this season and took a step back offensively last year which probably doesn’t help his value. Meanwhile, Dakota Joshua had a tough year after returning from testicular cancer so the three years and $9.75MM left on his deal could be viewed as problematic.
While there’s a belief that the Canucks underachieved last season, they haven’t done much to change up the core that finished off the year. But if they want to add any other pieces to their group to help their chances of getting back into the playoffs, they need to create some cap room beforehand, a process that already appears to be underway.
so they’re just gonna spin tires for another year, great idea guys (rangers fan talking has no ground to stand on)
It’s no consolation, but better off season than LA.
That’s debatable
Are they dumb enough to go get Karlsson?
Haha yes I believe they are!
How much would they love to get out from under OEL’s cap hit this year and next (actually to 2031)?
Should’ve thought about that before they bought him out.
Maybe they could flip Forbort, Boeser, Demko, and Kane to clear some cap space? Probably have to add some incentives to get someone to take those contracts on.
Any of those three you mentioned would be fine gets for teams with cap space. This is a funny way they got here though after the Kane trade. Well well well if it isn’t the consequences of your own actions
The Canucks current roster reflects an expansion team, It’s an absolute indictment on Patrik Allvin, And hiring Adam Foote as the head coach tells me that nobody else was Interested in the position, Here’s another fact, Adam Foote never even made a head coaching short list,On any NHL team. If you think last season was long for Vancouver, Hang around.
Good one! Everyone likes you.
Pens will take on blueger and hoglander for the right price too good of a trade match
They jumped too early on re-signing Forbort, acquiring Kane. The hole at centre is of their own making, they have EP2 & Mancini pushing for bigger roles. Then they fill the nets with nearly $10 soon to be $12m… I’m sure Quinn is excited about this season…
To NJ: Quinn Hughes
To Van: Bowen Byram, Dawson Mercer, 2026 NJ 1st, Seamus Casey
To Buff: Simon Nemec, 2026 Van 2nd or Bluegar
BUF says no unless they get a top-6 forward. They supposedly were in on Pettersson last season before they sent Cozens and Peterka elsewhere.
They want a D to replace Byram on the RS, Nemec is only a 3rd pair option right now but should be better pretty soon. I think Buff would like a more seasoned D than Nemec now, this trade would have worked earlier in the summer.
It could be amended to:
To Buff: Simon Nemec and Hoglander
Because Van would need to trade more salary.
EP is just another Jeff Skinner 2.0 for Buffalo (without salary retention). Pass.
Buffalo doesn’t really need to get a top 6 forward back. Benson, Kulich, Quinn & even Kozak can easily replace JJ’S 28 goals by just year over getting better. EP needs to be around $8.5mil per for Buffalo to be possibly interested (6’2″ 180lbs puts EP on the skinny side).
My God this team is poorly run. Maybe don’t sign demko and just keep silovs as your backup. Or maybe don’t take on evander Kane and his contract. So many ways not to screw this up and they have at every turn.
Find a trade partner for EP and his 8M per year, ‘I got paid so I don’t care any more’, anchor.
Find players that have grit and fire.
EP make $11.6M per year, if it were only $8M per year, he could have more easily been traded.