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Vancouver Canucks: Which Free Agents Should be Re-Signed?

By Jeff Godley

Mar 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis (2) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Emerson Etem (26) skate toward the net in the first period of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis (2) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Emerson Etem (26) skate toward the net in the first period of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 19, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames goalie Jonas Hiller (1) makes a save as Vancouver Canucks right wing Radim Vrbata (17) tries to score during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames goalie Jonas Hiller (1) makes a save as Vancouver Canucks right wing Radim Vrbata (17) tries to score during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

Radim Vrbata, RW:

Free Agent Status: Unrestricted

Should He Be Re-signed? No.

Radim Vrbata is counting down the days until July 1st. His 31-goal season last year is a distant memory. He is a minus-32 this season and has played in every conceivable line combination except those containing Swedish twins.

As long as Vrbata, the only pure NHL sniper on this Canucks team, does not play with Henrik and Daniel Sedin, the best playmakers on the team, then he is of little use.

When the Canucks’ season wraps up, Vrbata should catch the first flight out of town, and take his $5 Million cap hit with him.

Will Benning Re-sign Him? No. 

Vrbata was signed as a scoring stopgap in the top-six. He served that purpose admirably for most of his time in Vancouver, but younger, cheaper players have taken over that role, namely Sven Baertschi, Bo Horvat, Jake Virtanen and Jannik Hansen.

Vrbata has been bouncing around the lineup ever since, and can’t seem to buy a goal on most nights. The Canucks and Vrbata himself are ready to move on.

Next: Brandon Prust

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