Progress from a Rivals Perspective

Team: 2019-20 Vancouver Canucks

Initial Creation Date: May 9, 2019

Published: May 10, 2019

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

After a better than expected season, the Canucks have given their fans a reason to get excited about the team again. The team got absolutely dominated from a possession standpoint, but found a way to hang around in games through good coaching, hard work, and some skilled plays from their developing players. Not tanking for a better pick and having no luck in the draft lottery are unfortunate as they are hosting the draft this year. However, they have some good pieces to build around as they look to improve upon their surprise season and challenge for a playoff spot next year (though I do think they miss again). Here's a Flames fan's perspective on some improvements that can be made to make this team more competitive next year and set them up long term to make the playoffs consistently. These changes give them size and better depth up front

RFA's
Boeser - Vancouver locks up their sniper to a fair long term deal. He chooses a long term deal due to injuries each of his last two seasons and the team saves a bit of money for this offered security.
Goldobin - Not a great fit with coach Green, and I think this is a case where the team sides with the coach and moves the player for a reasonable return.
Leivo - Lock up medium term after getting him from Toronto. They may over pay him in year one, but towards the end he will be a bargain third liner.
Hutton - Had a bad year but previously liked his game. Signs a one year cheap contract and hopes to bounce back and get a fair deal done next off season.
Pouliot - Soon to be passed on the depth chart, I think the Canucks would do well to see if there's interest in him around the league.
Granlund - Not the best season and I think the Canucks would do well to target a bottom pairing RHD from a team with a lack of bottom six wingers.
Motte - Resigned as a versatile fourth liner than can play all three spots.
Rafferty & Teves - Signed to two year deals to develop in the AHL.

UFA's
Edler - Signs his long term retirement contract for a good value. He seems like he wants to stick around in Vancouver even during the re-build. Still a good player who can move down the lineup over the course of this deal and agrees to be paid accordingly.
Connolly - A BC boy signs with his hometown club for a fair price. He gets the opportunity to play on the top/shutdown line with Horvat.
Canucks avoid going after one of the big name FA's as they need to keep some cap space for renewing Pettersson and Hughes' contracts in a couple years and should keep their eyes on building top end talent through the draft at this point in their rebuild. I think next off season they would entertain going after after one of the big UFA defencemen.

Trades
Explanations in the individual trades.
Canucks can't use picks to move Eriksson at this stage in their rebuilding effort. Looked at swapping Eriksson for another poor contract (Okposo, Ladd, Lucic) but think the Canucks should elect to shop him with 33% to 50% retained.

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