Apr 25, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks center Brad Richardson (15) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the first period in game six of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
The Canuck Way looks at how the Pacific Division members shape up when it comes to their soon-to-be free agents.
With just one round left in the playoffs after the Conference Finals are finished, the focus is starting to shift more and more to the off-season. The 2015 NHL Draft is in a month, but teams are going to have start work on re-sign players.
The teams that are out of the playoffs are already working on re-signing players as some to-be RFAs have already signed with their club.
So let’s look at the free agents in the Pacific Division, starting with the Canucks and then going on from worst finish to best finish.
Vancouver Canucks
Cap Space: $3,205,834
Restricted Free Agents
NHL – Linden Vey, Ronalds Kenins, Brandon McMillan, Yannick Weber, Ryan Stanton, Jacob Markstrom
AHL – Joacim Eriksson, Michael Zalewski, Sven Baerstchi, Adam Clendening, Alexandre Grenier, Cory Conacher, Peter Andersson, Frank Corrado, Alex Friesen
Unrestricted Free Agents
NHL – Shawn Matthias, Brad Richardson
AHL – Tom Sestitio, Will Acton, Darren Archibald, Alex Biega, Cal O’Reilly, Bobby Sanguinetti, Joe Cannata, Brandon Defazio
Out of every team in the Pacific, the Cancuks have the least amount of cap space. The sad part is that they have a lot of players to sign.
Markstrom could be traded depending on what the Canucks decide to do with their goaltending. The young free agents such as Baertschi, Clendening and Corrado will be priorities. Matthias and Richardson will probably not return.
Next: Arizona Coyotes