Everything is coming up for the Vancouver Canucks.
The club sits atop the NHL standings at the All-Star break, and five players and head coach are scheduled to represent the franchise at the league's annual extravaganza in Toronto.
Brock Boeser has already hit 30 goals this season, and there's plenty of time to get to 40 (or even 50). Quinn Hughes is the favorite to win against Norris, Rick Tocchet is the favorite to win against Jack Adams, Thatcher Demko is likely (at least) to be a Vezina finalist, and you'd think Patrick Alvin would be the winner. . This is a very good chance to get this year's general manager.
On Saturday night, the Canucks played two sluggish periods and fell behind the basement-dwelling Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-1. Games like this happen to any team during a long 82-game season, and with the All-Star break looming, it wouldn't have been a big deal for Vancouver to enter the break quietly.
However, even if this type of game has happened with other teams, it shouldn't have happened yet with the Canucks in the 2023-24 season. Three quick power-play goals and Elias Pettersson's subsequent overtime win extended the Canucks' winning streak to 11 games. Despite the team being out of action for a week and a half, the good vibes continue unabated on Canada's west coast.
Once they return, the hockey we can expect will be nailed down. And the fireworks on the ice should be just as good.
We don't know what exactly will be achieved, but we can be sure that this management group is poised to push some chips into the center of the table before the deadline. Given how this season has played out so far, the Canucks will be aggressive.
Right off the bat, we'll be looking at a variety of deadline targets, but as the deadline season approaches, we'd like to kick off our silly season coverage with our annual look at the Canucks' trade tiers. This article serves as an inventory of Canucks players and trade assets based on a combination of analysis, reporting, and informed speculation. These articles are published each year just as the NHL's annual rumor season gets into full swing.
In past years, this has often been an article focused on which players are moveable from a seller's perspective, but this year is different, so our focus will inevitably be on flexibility and options. It will move. This is an important factor to consider, given that the salary cap will make it difficult for the Canucks to add big-ticket items without subtracting them from the lineup.
This exercise will be completed in two parts. Today we start with the untouchables, and tomorrow in Part 2 we move into areas of lesser certainty.
Please note that all salary, term, bonus information, and trade and transfer protection notes are provided by CapFriendly.com.
even deeper
4 reasons why the Canucks should be very aggressive before the trade deadline
not moving
JT Miller (NMC — 7 years left, $8 million cap hit)
It's been a long time since the trade deadline hasn't had Miller's name thrown around in trade rumors.
Miller is in the midst of the best season of his career, on pace for 112 points. But it's not just point production, and since Tocchet's hiring, he has significantly improved his two-way production at even strength.
With the Canucks winning again, he learned to control his emotions better. The bumps of sticks, slamming of doors, and moments of frustration have all but disappeared. Even when he makes the occasional mistake, like the defensive zone turnover that led to a goal against Columbus on Saturday night, he bounces back with renewed focus, as he did with a spectacular display of power in the third period. The play assist was the key to Vancouver's come-from-behind victory.
In the first year of a major extension, Miller has outperformed his $8 million cap hit, is an important part of a contending team and knows he owns a full no-move clause. Therefore, you can enjoy a sense of security.
Quinn Hughes (four years left, $7.85 million cap hit)
Forget about being the Canucks' best skater or Norris' top candidate. Hughes has a good chance of becoming a finalist for the Hart Trophy.
Nathan MacKinnon is the clear favorite to win, and no defender has been named a Hart finalist since Chris Pronger in 2000, so he has a pretty good chance of beating Hughes, but he's one of the top three in the world this season. He is one of the top 5 players and took 6th place. These are the best odds to win a prize on the betting market at the moment.
Hughes has made a nice leadership transition into his role as Vancouver's captain and owns the best contract on this roster, with three years remaining after the 2023-24 season when the cap falls below $8 million. ing.
Elias Pettersson (RFA this summer, $7.35 million cap hit)
Pettersson is Vancouver's most influential two-way forward, Jack Hughes being the other, but he can say he has scored 100 points as an NHL centerman under the age of 25, although he has never actually surpassed the milestone. He is one of the few players. .
Considering Pettersson's important role on this team and how rare it is to find a centerman who matches his talent, his contract status – Pettersson will sign a contract extension on July 1, 2023 With his current team qualifying but refusing to move forward with further contract negotiations at this time, it will likely have a big impact in the upcoming offseason.
While that's not something to worry about, it's definitely something to keep an eye on as the Canucks head towards the deadline. Resolving Pettersson's next contract isn't so urgent that the Canucks need to resolve it before the deadline (although that would be desirable), but any uncertainty over Pettersson's future moves could influence the club's stance. It is a background situation that can have an impact. And they'll likely accomplish that goal before the trade deadline.
even deeper
Dorrance: How we stopped worrying about Elias Pettersson's contract extension rumors
Brock Boeser (2 years remaining, $6.65 million cap hit)
Boeser's career-best performance this season erased any doubts about his short-term future with the Canucks.
He is Vancouver's best winger and could challenge for 50 goals this season. He's also perfected his game quite a bit over the years: as a playmaker, net-front screener, and wall-winner, but this season he's putting it all together while converting chances more efficiently than ever before. I have to. Until now.
Boeser will be eligible for an extension this summer, and the Canucks will have an interesting decision to make on their leading scorer at that point. But for now, we're watching a talented player reach his full potential, and his contributions will be essential to getting this team to where it wants to be this spring.
Thatcher Demko (3 years left, $5 million cap hit)
Looking around the NHL, several playoff-level teams have questionable goalie situations. There also seems to be a shortage of true star goalies. Fortunately, the Canucks don't have to worry about that. They are blessed with one of the best tandems in the league led by Demko.
Demko is rock solid playing behind the Canucks, who have vastly improved their defense. The Vezina Trophy is currently a two-horse race between him and Connor Hellebuyck.
Ilya Mikheyev (m-NTC — 3 years remaining, $4.75 million cap hit)
Mikheyev is currently suffering his longest scoring drought since signing with the Canucks as an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2022, but that shouldn't obscure the high level of play he's managed all season. .
In fact, Mikheyev's contribution exceeds reasonable expectations, both from a two-way and attacking point of view. Especially for a player who is less than 12 months removed from major surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
Mikheyev's speed, size, and fit in Tocchet's system, which emphasizes north-south play and wall speed, will be essential for Vancouver heading into the postseason.
Filip Hronek (RFA this summer, $4.4 million cap hit)
Vancouver's front office made a bold and controversial move in acquiring Hronek at last year's deadline. It took just half a season for the 26-year-old right-shot defenseman to solidify his place as a centerpiece.
Hronek is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights and a strong case to be paid as a high-end top-pairing defender on his next contract. That's something the Canucks will figure out this summer, but for now Hronek's chemistry with Hughes makes him an essential piece for Vancouver's future playoff push.
Carson Soucy (NTC — 3 years remaining, $3.25 million cap hit)
Soucy, who is currently recovering from his second long-term injury of the season, has performed well every time he has been in the lineup in Vancouver.
His size, defensive instincts, especially rush defense, and underrated offensive skills make him a huge upgrade on the blue line, and he has two years left on his term after this season and a cap hit. At $3.25 million (and full no-trade protection), Soucy is shaping up to be an effective contributor in the medium term.
Ian Cole (UFA this summer, $3 million cap hit)
Cole is a steady bottom-four presence.
He's not the fastest skater, so the Canucks will have to be careful not to give him too much time and wear him out, but Cole's defensive IQ, ability to defend shooting lanes in the slot and passing lanes , and the impact of the penalty kill (he has played 25 games with more minutes on penalty kill than any other Canucks defenseman) contributed.
Cole's experience and leadership will also be a huge asset in April, considering the Canucks don't have a playoff contender.
Teddy Blueger (UFA this summer, $1.9 million cap hit)
Blueger has been the linchpin of Vancouver's most consistent five-on-five line this season, is on track to post a career-high in points in the coming weeks, and is the team's most used and most important penalty-killing forward. he's not going anywhere.
Casey DeSmith (UFA this summer, $1.8 million cap hit)
DeSmith appeared in 15 games as a backup for the Canucks, posting above-average goaltending and giving Demko the cover he needed to manage his workload this season.
A solid backup will be essential for the Canucks to maintain their advantage until the end, especially considering Demko has limited the workload of key starters for the first time in the regular season and has never made the playoffs. It will be.
Pius Suter (2 years remaining, $1.6 million cap hit)
Suter has provided high-level depth for the Canucks on multiple lines and at multiple positions throughout this season. For a high-IQ player who has a big contract for this season and next season, it is extremely important to lock him in with Suter for a certain period of time. He promises to be a vital asset in the club's reloading efforts this summer, which is needed after giving major raises to star-level players like Pettersson and Hronek.
Sam Lafferty (UFA this summer, $1.15 million cap hit)
The move to acquire Lafferty with a fifth-round pick was a steal. Lafferty had 10 goals and 10 assists in 49 games while playing primarily in a fourth-line role.
The 28-year-old brought a lot to the table with his speed, size, sandpaper and hard work. He also showed his versatility by playing center early in the season when Blueger was injured. His multi-positional flexibility is great insurance heading into the playoffs.
Dakota Joshua (UFA this summer, $825,000 cap hit)
Joshua completed one of the most impressive 180-degree comebacks of the season. It's easy to forget now, but Tocchet was outspoken in his criticism of Joshua during training camp and got scratched on Nov. 2.
Since then, Joshua has become an integral part of one of the best third lines in hockey. He's developed into one of the Canucks' most reliable penalty killers and will likely finish with 15-20 goals.
Joshua's size, physicality, and ability to create opportunities in the net-front area will make him even more valuable in the playoffs.
Check back tomorrow for other tiers, including “I won't move unless there's a blockbuster” tier, “Maybe I'll move if the Canucks go all in” tier, and “Cap-flexible trade candidate” tier .
(Photo of JT Miller and Quinn Hughes: Bob Frid/USA Today)
