Vancouver Canucks: 5 Low-Profile RFAs Vancouver Could Target

The Vancouver Canucks need to find talented players in unusual places — like restricted free agency.

The Vancouver Canucks are struggling with a thin prospect pool and might be facing a long, long rebuild. If they want to speed it up at least a little bit, they will have to find talented players in unusual places.

Unusual places means players that are not as highly pursued by NHL clubs as others. Low-profile Europeans, college players — and restricted free agents.

The 2016 class of restricted free agents is headlined by forwards Marcus Johansson (WSH), Nazem Kadri (TOR) and Chris Kreider (NYR), and defencemen Tyson Barrie (COL), Danny DeKeyser (DET) and Torey Krug (BOS). Obviously, all of those players play important roles on their respective teams and signing them would not be cheap. As restricted free agents, they could be signed to offer sheets that cost draft picks for compensation or be acquired via trade, with equally important pieces going the other way.

What the Vancouver Canucks should focus on is unrestricted free agency, but also low-profile RFAs.

The American Hockey League is full of talented players who are struggling to succeed for various reasons. Some have struggled with injuries, others were stuck behind star players on the depth chart, and some simply weren’t given a fair chance.

Many of those players would love to be traded to a franchise that gives them a fresh start and puts them in a position to succeed. The Vancouver Canucks could be that franchise.

As opposed to guys like Johansson or Barrie, RFAs from the minors cost little to no compensation. However, if they sign an offer sheet, their current club can easily match it. Players are afraid of that scenario because it could hurt their reputation with their current club even more.

Therefore, a trade is more likely — similar to the trade that sent Nicklas Jensen to the New York Rangers for Emerson Etem. Two players that needed a fresh start.

Here are five AHL players who might need a fresh start and could help speed up Vancouver’s rebuild.

Next: D Fredrik Claesson

D Fredrik Claesson

Fredrik Claesson is a 23-year-old defenceman from Sweden who was selected 126th overall (fifth round) by the Ottawa Senators at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He stayed with Djugardens IF of the SHL for another season before making the jump to North America in 2012. Since then, the 6-foot, 205-pound D-man appeared in 276 AHL games and 10 NHL contests for the Senators organization.

A stay-at-home defenseman, Claesson made his NHL debut on December 30th, 2015, and stayed with the club for the majority of January as well. During that stretch, he played eight games without recording a point and was a minus-8. He had another call-up in March, staying for two games this time, but has yet to record his first NHL point.

The fact that Claesson is not a big producer should not come as a surprise, though. In the Swedish SuperElit, an under-20 junior league, Claesson .19 points per game and in the professional SHL, he only had .11. His 29-point season for the Binghamton Senators in 2013-14 made hope for more, but he was unable to repeat those numbers, showing that he is mainly a defensive defenceman.

The Canucks currently have at least four left-side defencemen locked up through next season (Alexander Edler, Ben Hutton, Luca Sbisa, Andrey Pedan), but some additional competition could certainly help. If Claesson gets his production back up and can translate it to the NHL level, he could be a serviceable top-six D-man for years to come.

From Elite Prospects:

A solid stay-at-home defenseman. Claesson plays a simple and smart game without taking any risks. Has a pretty good shot, but does not use it too often. Could use some work on his puck skills. (EP 2011)

Next: D Rasmus Rissanen

D Rasmus Rissanen

The Carolina Hurricanes own the rights to another European defenceman, Rasmus Rissanen. The 6-foot-3, 217-pound Finn was drafted by Carolina 178th overall (sixth round) in the 2009 NHL Draft. Since 2011, he played in 294 AHL and six NHL games.

Rissanen is not a big point producer either. He isn’t and he never was. However, the 24-year-old is a solid defensive defenceman who plays a gritty game and is responsible in his own zone.

In March 2015, Rissanen got a first chance to play at the NHL level and it looked like he might stick around for a while. Unfortunately, a sprained MCL meant the end of his NHL career for now. The Hurricanes returned Rissanen to their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, and the defenceman has been waiting for a second chance ever since. He was called up in late October this season, but was demoted again without playing a game.

Like Fredrik Claesson, Rissanen projects to be a strong defensive defenceman for the top six. Skating used to be his biggest issue but he was able to improve on that during his time in the minors.

From Elite Prospects:

Rissanen is a defensive defenseman with solid size and a good physical game. Plays with grit and emotion, and won’t back down from anyone. With that, some penalty trouble can follow. Owns a good shot and a decent outlet pass. Could improve his skating skills. – Ulf Andersson, EP (2011)

Next: W Brett Bulmer

RW/LW Brett Bulmer

When the Minnesota Wild used their 39th-overall selection of the 2010 NHL Draft on forward Brett Bulmer, they were hoping to get a big power forward who can score and play a gritty game. So far, Bulmer has been focused on the latter.

The 6-foot-4, 212-pound winger had 65 goals and 151 points along with 299 penalty minutes in 178 games for the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets. In a professional career derailed by injuries, Bulmer struggled to transfer his offensive skills to the next level. So far, he recorded 23 goals and 55 points in 199 AHL games and added three assists in 17 NHL contests.

Bulmer made it to the last roster cut prior to the 2015-16 campaign but was sent down to AHL Iowa to start the season. Since then, he was called up just once, playing a total of 20:09 over three games.

Born in Prince George, BC, Bulmer probably wouldn’t mind a move to Vancouver, as he has clearly fallen out of favour with the Wild. For the Canucks, he could fill a role similar to that of Derek Dorsett, while working on his offensive production.

From Hockey’s Future:

Bulmer is a big body who can hit and defend effectively. More oriented to the defensive side of the game, he has added some power moves to his repertoire. Bulmer had several injuries which impacted his ability to contribute.

Next: LW Andrew Agozzino

LW Andrew Agozzino

Luckily, the free-agent marked is not all defensive players. Andrew Agozzino, an undrafted forward for the Colorado Avalanche, is the exact opposite. A speedy winger and hard worker, Agozzino has a lot of potential but has been waiting in vain to get a real shot in the NHL for many years.

At 5-foot-10, 187 pounds, Agozzino does not have it easy in professional hockey. However, he works extremely hard and plays a gritty game, using his body as much as he can.

An undrafted Ontario Hockey League standout, Agozzino was signed to a contract by the AHL Lake Erie Monsters, the Avalanche’s former affiliate, in 2012 and earned himself an NHL entry-level deal. He has 79 goals and 194 points so far in his 266-game career but only got to play in four NHL contests (three of them this season), recording two assists.

Agozzino is limited to a scoring role thanks to his frame. However, even as one of the Colorado’s best minor-league scorers, he has not been put in a position to be a scorer at the NHL level. The Canucks, however, look like they might be the right team to try him out in a second or third-line scoring role.

From Elite Prospects:

Agozzino is an offensive winger with good speed, hands and vision. Is a hard worker who doesn’t shy away from the hard areas of the ice, despite being smallish. Also plays with grit. – Erik K. Piri, EP (2014)

Next: C Michael Chaput