Vancouver Canucks Free Agency: Top 6 Strategies to Use

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Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning announces Jake Virtanen (not pictured) as the number six overall pick to the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Look at how much cash the Vancouver Canucks have for spending this offseason.

The Vancouver Canucks promised this hockey-voracious city a busy offseason highlighted by the potential of the NHL Entry Draft and the influx of youth as the veterans vacate the lineup one by one. The future will be brighter this offseason, undoubtedly.

But why wait for the future if one can win right now?

That is the question that the Canucks will address when NHL-proven players hit the open market on July 1st. GM Jim Benning is ready for the occasion. Being 82 games removed from a disappointing offseason highlighted by the exit of Zack Kassian and Nick Bonino, the Vancouver GM is ready to spend.

Benning is ready. Are you?

Here at The Canuck Way, we are going to prepare you for the big day, the Free Agent Frenzy by analyzing the top free agents the Canucks could sign to bolster the roster and win while growing a new core through the draft.

Having covered each position in depth, now it is the time to strategize our collection of free agents. HOW should the Canucks spend this July?

How the Canucks Look Without Free Agents

Before we look to add, let us look at what the Canucks have to begin with. Here is the projected depth chart for September.

As advertised coming into the offseason, the Canucks are going to look for an established top-six scorer. Although Anton Rodin could turn out to be a 40-point guy and earn himself a spot with the Sedins, scoring is unproven and flimsy at best for the Canucks. The back end didn’t help, either. The Canucks need scoring help up front and on the blueline.

Although the back end is getting an upgrade with the addition of Erik Gudbranson, the forwards are quite something else. There are only a handful of guys who are known for their size and grit. Three, in fact, with one player in each position. Jake Virtanen to the right, Derek Dorsett to the left, and Brandon Sutter down the middle. The Canucks need size and power up front.

With the aging Sedins up front and a rather bulky bunch on the blueline, the Canucks need speed to adapt to the new NHL. I would think that the defense needs more speed than the forwards do. The Canucks need speed on the blueline.

The Canucks have not too many players who can make the jump to the NHL next season. But in this day and age, the power and energy in youth seem to be key to success. With the Canucks wanting to retool and rebuild, they need to obtain proven youth. The Canucks need proven youth in their mid 20’s.

So with these needs identified, let’s see what the Canucks can do on July 1st.

Next: YOUTH: High Risk, High Reward

Jan 7, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Arizona Coyotes left wing Mikkel Boedker (89) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Arizona Coyotes won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

#1 YOUTH: High Risks and High Rewards

Due to the CBA, the youngest NHL free agents are at least 26 years old. Interesting to note, there is only one *NHL-proven* free agent defenseman available at age 26 this July. This speaks to the value of young defensemen.

When acquiring young players who are still being developed, the coach’s role will be crucial. The coach needs to find room to mix veterans with the young ones. The prospects of youth, though, is tantalizing with speed and scoring. See for yourself.

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C/LW Sam Gagner (26) 16 pts / 53 GP
LW Mikkel Boedker (26) 51 pts / 80 GP
C Steven Stamkos (26) 64 pts / 77 GP

Center Sam Gagner is your definition of a wild card player. His success and skill level have crossed paths as the former Oiler ended yet another up-and-down season on an upswing. The majority of his success came in the second half of the season, and though his lack of size may deter Benning from investing heavily on Gagner to add to what is already a jam-packed Canucks center position, he is definitely a skilled option for the wings.

Left winger Mikkel Boedker wasn’t featured on previous weeks’ Free Agent Fridays, but here he is. He is characteristic of youth. Some inconsistency that overlooks a great scoring touch and top-end skating abilities. He brings speed like no one else.

Jim Benning, I think, would agree with me that Boedker is a better option. However, if either one of Boedker or Gagner comes to Vancouver, the forwards could line up like these:

Impact on the Line Up

I would think having the better playmaker on the line with Anton Rodin will maximize the offense. Gagner is a tremendous playmaker while I would put Baertschi above Boedker in the passing department. Either way, an addition of Gagner or Boedker would be tremendous for the middle six.

I will leave Stamkos to define himself.

Next: SPEED: Scoring Comes with Speed?

Mar 21, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers left wing Viktor Stalberg (25) reacts after scoring a goal against the Florida Panthers during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

#2 SPEED: Scoring Comes with Speed?

This is where the Canucks need to improve big-time. Either by moving the puck quickly or by skating quickly, the Canucks have got to be faster on the blueline. Speed down the wings would also be great.

But is it true that speed can offset the lack of size and grit at times? Although big men with quick feet are great, they are a rare and precious breed.

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LW Mikkel Boedker (26) 51 pts / 80 GP
D Kris Russell (29) 19 pts / 62 GP
LW Viktor Stalberg (30) 20 pts / 75 GP

One of the key defensemen at this year’s free agency, Kris Russell is an interesting name. He is quick, he is mobile on and off the puck, and he does not sacrifice defense for offense — look at his shot blocking pedigree. Russell, I think, is the one player who will be able to make this Vancouver defense one of the league’s best in a few years’ time.

The one concern with Russell may be his slight frame, but for winger Viktor Stalberg, that isn’t an issue. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, he is one of the aforementioned “rare breeds” that combine size with wheels. Though his pedigree as a scorer is limited to one 43-point season with the Chicago Blackhawks, Stalberg’s size would be much appreciated at a bottom-six capacity.

Impact on the Line Up

Though that third line leaves a little room for want, the fourth line should provide Gaunce with opportunities off the forecheck to score quite frequently.

Russell will be able to help on the man advantage, too. Should be a great Hutton-like figure for Tryamkin, the Gudbranson-like giant.

Next: SIZE: A Few Familiar Faces

Mar 18, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche center Shawn Matthias (18) skates during the warmup period against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. Colorado Avalanche won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

#3 SIZE: A Few Familiar Faces

Size is the other side of the story that Jim Benning always preaches. Though many point to players like Johnny Gaudreau and Martin St. Louis to argue that size is not a must for an NHL player in this new era of playing — what good is a 5-foot-10 Nikita Tryamkin and a 5-foot-9 Erik Gudbranson?

As noted above, the Canucks have good size on the blueline. The forwards, however, don’t have much size, nor do they have much grit. Though Sutter is a big body, his physicality is almost unnoticed. Dorsett, Virtanen, and Etem may be the only ones who can rough it up.

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LW Viktor Stalberg (30) 20 pts / 75 GP
C Shawn Matthias (28) 28 pts / 71 GP
RW Troy Brouwer (30) 52 pts / 102 GP*

Stalberg: 6’3″, 210 lbs
Matthias: 6’4″, 230 lbs
Brouwer: 6’3″, 210 lbs

And you will see a couple of familiar faces on that list. I was always a fan of Shawn Matthias and now that he has survived a horrid season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, my respect for the big man is even greater. He brings a formidable force to the faceoff dot as well as a young leadership voice to the bench.

Of course, our dear Troy Brouwer makes the list after pointing out that he has a great interest in signing with the Canucks. Though speed is not his forte, he proved once again that he can still score at a decent level to provide strong secondary support for the Sedins should he come to Van City.

His leadership, as well as his Burrows-like tenacity, leads me to say that the Canucks will love the big man.

Impact on the Line Up

The only issue with bringing Brouwer to Vancouver will be the inability to then play Jake Virtanen on a scoring line. I do not think the Canucks want to develop Virtanen into a bottom-six checker after drafting him with the sixth-overall pick.

Next: SCORING: Must Spend to Score

Jan 5, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) skates during the warmup period against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

#4 SCORING: Must Spend to Score

Here come the big boys, the big names who mean points, points, points, and more points. They always cost us something, eh? Scoring is going to be the biggest concern for the Canucks heading into free agency, and they will have to spend if they want to properly address the issue.

The obvious names, should I say, with one perhaps forgotten franchise player in decline? Who knows if Eric Staal has still something left in him?

Note before continuing: there is no way that the Canucks are acquiring all these pieces.

Impact on the Line Up

I really do think that playing a non-Sedin first-line player between the wings may be the best way to go. There is no doubt that the grind of the faceoffs is burning Henrik over the course of a full season. Henrik seems a lot more frail than Daniel despite Daniel’s concussion history.

Bringing Hansen down to the off wing is a Burrows-inspired experiment that might lead to the creation of one of the most versatile third lines ever! A sniper with two versatile quicksters, one who can play great defense and the other who can forecheck the life out of the opposition.

Next: HOMECOMING: Where the Heart Leads

Mar 14, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; St. Louis Blues right wing Troy Brouwer (36) during the face off against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

#5 HOMECOMING: Where the Heart Leads

Speaking of Troy Brouwer, comments made by fellow B.C.-native Andrew Ladd may have been overlooked by a few here in Vancouver. Continuing with the signing of college free agents Michael Garteig and Troy Stecher, “homecoming” has become a common theme in this year’s free agency.

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RW Troy Brouwer (30) 52 pts / 102 GP*
LW Andrew Ladd (30) 46 pts / 78 GP
D Dan Hamhuis (33) 13 pts / 58 GP
C Mike Santorelli (30) 18 pts /70 GP

While bringing back all these players would be the most improbable, landing one of Ladd or Brouwer will be the most opportune. Both are physical leaders who can score at a top-six rate. It will be interesting to see which veteran GM Jim Benning is willing to stick with, but I feel that Ladd is the more probable one, simply for he plays the left side.

Sven Baertschi needs some help, as we all know. He can’t possibly carry the entire secondary scoring from the left side.

Hamhuis is still on the radar as a potential fit as Nikita Tryamkin’s partner on the third pairing. Mike Santorelli will be an Adam Cracknell-like player who brings stability to the bottom six while giving the Canucks a reliable defensive option in the faceoff dot with a ton of versatility.

Bringing home these players will be a huge boost for the organization, a good selling point after drafting a player outside the top three. The management needs to build a good image after the things that have happened recently in Vancouver, from the latest season to the somewhat unpopular McCann trade.

Next: REALITY CHECK: A Benning's Call

Apr 14, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings left wing Milan Lucic (17) warms up before the game one of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

#6 REALITY CHECK: A Benning’s Call

But at the end of the day, it’s the GM’s call, isn’t it?

GM Jim Benning has been criticized for overpaying a few players for their services as a free agent. Netminder Ryan Miller at $6 million per year is one while right winger Radim Vrbata at $5 million per year was another.

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But at this year’s Free Agent Frenzy, Benning advertised to spend. Are we excited about that in Canucks Nation or are we worried about another 34-year-old signing a big deal for the sake of “winning”?

Ultimately it’s up to the GM. Who does he want to get and how much does he cough up? The best-case scenario would be hitting the grand slam and getting Steven Stamkos. Young, speedy, scoring, and able to replace the older leaders and bump a first-line forward down to the middle six.

But given the salary cap the Canucks are working with, here is what to expect with the ~$10 million the Canucks have going into July 1st.

Second Best Scenario: Kyle Okposo and Kris Russell

The addition of scoring is real. There is power in the strides of Kyle Okposo as well as the ability to play a sound two-way game that Jim Benning loves so much. After a performance that matched Stamkos’s point totals, Okposo’s stock is nearly second-to-none.

This may turn out to be a cap crunch. Expect Okposo to get near $7 million per year for half-dozen years. As for Russell, expect him to get up to $4.5 million per year for four years or so. But that being said that lineup looks pretty competent to me.

The catch is the cap. Those numbers aren’t including the extension for Sven Baertschi. The Canucks, however, if they manage to move Alex Burrows and Luca Sbisa who both are not in the lineup as written, will have room to add even more or to sign RFA’s like Etem or Pedan.

But when it is all said and done, Vancouver’s fans should set an expectation going into July. What is good spending as advertised? Is neglecting Dan Hamhuis the right call if a Kris Russell were to come in or sticking true to the hometown guy the right thing to do.

Expectations: A Top Six Winger and a Puck Moving D

To voice my bit of the expectation going into Free Agency, I would want to see a top six winger come to Vancouver with a puck moving blueliner. Andrew Ladd, Troy Brouwer, and Kris Russell (if you haven’t noticed already) are my favorites, while Milan Lucic’s name has just resurfaced into the market.

Next: OFFSEASON: Survival Guide for June

But the real potential is waiting for Trader Jim in the trade market. Disposing of Burrows, Higgins, and Sbisa is going to be crucial for the Canucks while getting a good return in picks would be awesome.

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