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Vancouver Canucks Free Agency: Top 5 Exposed RFAs to Target

By David Joun

Dec 27, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Joe Colborne (8) skates against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Joe Colborne (8) skates against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 4, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz (4) moves the puck against the Washington Capitals during the third period in game four of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pens won 3-2 in overtime to take a 3 games to 1 series lead. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 5: Justin Schultz

The long-time supposed savior for the Edmonton Oilers’ blueline has hit the open market after not being qualified by this year’s Stanley Cup Champion, the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins would have had to pay Schultz $3.9 million to qualify him, but here he is on the free market.

Just as the Canucks did with Yannick Weber last year, the Penguins could still sign Schultz, albeit after July 1st.

Position: Defense
Height / Weight: 6-foot-2, 193 lbs
Age: 26 (in a week)
2015-16 Stats: 63 GP — 4 Goals — 14 Assists — 18 Points
2015-16 Salary: $3.9 million
Expected UFA Salary: $3.2 million

Justin Schultz is a fantastic offensive defenseman who has the size that Tyson Barrie does not. His offensive upside isn’t as great as Barrie’s, but the comparison should be made as both show a lack of defensive acumen quite frequently.

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That is, until, Schultz wasn’t expected to play top-pairing minutes for the poor Edmonton Oilers. Schultz became a great transitional defenseman when paired on the third pairing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, on their way to winning a Stanley Cup. Schultz would be the one who probably comes close to satisfying the Canucks’ need for an offensive defenseman that they tried to address in picking Olli Juolevi.

If he comes as a top-six guy on with either Nikita Tryamkin or Luca Sbisa as his partner, the Canucks top-eight on the blueline could consist of Hutton, Schultz, and Larsen being the puck movers to compliment Sbisa, Tryamkin, and Gudbranson, with Edler and Tanev manning the top pairing. That sounds pretty good to me.

The only fault here is whether Juolevi makes Schultz an unnecessary piece or not. That is the only reason that Schultz falls to the number five spot here and the fact that the Canucks are looking primarily for a scorer and a two-way winger.

But of course, the hometown fit is there. The Kelowna native has been linked with the Canucks before.

Next: No. 4: BRETT CONNOLLY

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