Vancouver Canucks Free Agency: Top 20 Players to Target

Free agency is upon us and the Vancouver Canucks are set to make a splash.

Canada Day, otherwise better known as NHL free agent frenzy day, has been both a treat and a curse for the Vancouver Canucks recently. Radim Vrbata, now set to leave as a UFA, came to this organization on a deal that most criticized at the time of the signing but now lauds as an opportunistic grab by GM Jim Benning.

On the other hand, Yannick Weber and Matt Bartkowski are both being shown the door after being signed for one year each. For some reason, free agency resonates with most Canucks fans as “the day Jim Benning lets hockey players have his bank account”.

Well, this year won’t be much different. In fact, Jim Benning is ever so close to just cashing in almost all of the $9.2 million cap space he has. What is he going to get?

A 20+ goal scorer and a versatile two-way forward.

Vancouver took another step in securing that all-so-important cap space by buying out Chris Higgins and shutting the door on Dan Hamhuis today.

Before we jump into the top 20 players who could be the best fits for the Canucks, here are the latest about the Canucks from Twitter:

Adam Cracknell back in Vancouver?

I would love it for Adam Cracknell to be back with the Canucks. He is a great depth option, and especially if he were to lead a group of depleted Comets forwards in Utica with the Canucks’ AHL affiliate, there is nothing more I can hope for. He has a wicked wrister that is underrated. Great character, great grit.

The Weisbrod Factor: CGY players

Although small names, Jooris is an un-qualified RFA power forward who is a versatile bottom-six forward. His physicality will be very welcomed.

Corban Knight is described as an energy player who loves to hit using his 6-foot-2 frame. A B.C. native, the 25-year-old two-way forward is a versatile option for the Canucks.

A Plan-B: Benning likes Gagner?

I guess Jim Benning is being realistic and looking at his past history of “recuperating” players. Gagner could be a steal, but I wouldn’t spend anything above $3.5 million for him.

Honorable Mention

After finding his game playing sheltered minutes in the Stanley Cup Playoff with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the former Edmonton Oiler is hitting the open market after not being qualified by the Penguins. Though not being able to play the do-it-all top pairing role for the Oilers, the NHL has rediscovered Schultz’s defensive capabilities that could decently handle top-six minutes during the intense, fast-paced playoffs.

A decent fit for him could be on the pairing with Nikita Tryamkin or Luca Sbisa but the way things are shaping up with Hamhuis having to leave, an addition on the Canucks’ blueline seems unlikely.

Let’s get to the top 20 players who would be the best fit for Vancouver!

Next: #20 - #17

Stalberg is a speedy winger whose massive frame also brings with it a voice of leadership, sound defensive play, and sparks of offensive genius. A great Benning-type player. The only reason he crawls in as the number 20 on this list? He has not a place on a crowded Canuck bottom-six that is set to become more crowded with the signing of a 20-goal scorer.

Kris Versteeg is a very good fit for the Canucks. He is a great defensive forward as well as a speedy versatile player who can get on the offense quite efficiently.

However, his lack of size won’t help his cause. A player of his caliber belongs in the top-six, but with that frame and at an expected price of at least $4 million, the fit is outweighed by the risk and the cost. No deal for Van, unless Jim Benning can sign Versteeg at $3 million or under.

He’s a fighter, Mr. Weise is. He has built himself a reputation for being one of the NHL’s top third-line checker who can cash in with some timely scoring. His work ethic makes him a versatile piece for any club even when the game is on the line.

With the bottom-six wing spots almost filled up, the Canucks’ need for a hard-checking winger is minimal. Weise would have been great there instead of an Etem or a Dorsett, but the fit just isn’t there for Vancouver.

If Jim Benning can get Gagner for anything lower than $2.5 million, I would have to applaud him for being an opportunistic GM who got one of the league’s most skilled players at half the price he could have gotten had he continued his strong mid-season play for another 20 games or so.

Gagner isn’t a two-way player, nor will he be a great center. However, he could be a 20+ goal scorer if he is moved to the wing and gets to play with strong, skilled, and speedy linemates.

Of course, if Gagner comes in on a short-term deal, his shootout specialty could prove to be a big asset and a reason for fans to come to Rogers Arena.

Next: #16 - #13

A former franchise center is looking for a short-term deal that will allow him to play top-six minutes in the NHL. Eric Staal may be an option for the Canucks if all the other names are off the market. Will Benning continue to salvage players who are in decline in hopes of reviving them into cheap assets?

If anything Staal projects to be a stretch as the 20+ goal scorer and not the versatile two-way player. His 13 goals and 29 assists may seem appealing, but the bigger upside for Staal is that he wants a short-term deal. Could he be the second Radim Vrbata? Vrbata only had 20 goals in his final year as a Coyote before erupting to 31 goals with the Sedins!

Perron is overrated but is still a great all-around player. His agitating qualities outweigh his production (just 12 goals and 36 points this last season) but his skills are unquestionable. But a player of his caliber has no place in Vancouver without a defensive acumen, which many note in Perron’s game as missing. Not a good fit in Vancouver but a good player to steal should he be available in late July.

The Canucks do not have much space on the blueline but Schlemko could be too good of a steal to pass by. A solid puck mover who has proved to be a timely producer from the blueline, Schlemko may or may not be due for a big raise. It is really tough to gauge as he projected to be just a depth option for the Devils to begin the year.

Nielsen is a sleek playmaking center who is a bonafide top-six player. Nielsen was a 20-goal scorer, however, despite putting up 32 assists along the way. Hard to see a fit in Vancouver, but if the Canucks are fine playing him on Horvat’s line or swapping Sutter to the wings, Nielsen would be a good get for the Canucks.

However, age is a factor against Nielsen, who is still in talks with the New York Islanders for a potential return.

Next: #12 - #10

A young forward set to become a top-six scorer with his terrific hands and his high playmaking abilities, Pirri is an RFA who has been released by the Anaheim Ducks. Though not the most physical of the players, his quality play with the puck could earn Jim Benning’s trust.

Though not established a 20+ goal scorer as some of the other names on this list are, Pirri is a great scorer at his age, one of the best available under 26 years of age as a free agent this summer. The only reason he is not in the top-10 is that he isn’t a promised versatile two-way player nor an established 20+ goal scorer.

He’s a leader, he’s a body banger, he’s a reliable two-way player, and he can play both the pivot and the wing. What else do you want? Shawn Matthias is a complete player who could return to Van City after being let go (an unpopular decision, mind you) and signing a $2.3 million contract.

A force in the faceoff circle, Jim Benning may be wise to not pass Matthias up for a second time. The fit is there, but it would not be the most ideal to see Matthias anywhere above the third line. For that reason, he finds himself this low in the rankings.

Darren Helm has all the right tools to be wanted by Jim Benning. He is a terrific skater who can play all three forward positions. He has great two-way upside and is a work horse who works himself so hard each and every night to the extent some question if his body will be able to endure the stress. But without an injury trouble the past couple of seasons, Helm could be the real steal in this year’s free agency.

With Alex Burrows in decline, Helm could be the hard-working forward who becomes a surprise fit with the Sedins or a leader on a younger line, perhaps to the right of Horvat or as a third-liner. He is a top penalty killer. His work ethic will be able to help Anton Rodin during his transition days back into the NHL.

Helm fills the two-way versatility need to the absolute perfection. Jim Benning has already contacted Helm’s camp.

Next: #9 - #7

A 6-foot-3 frame that leads by example, hits, and scores almost 20 goals? If the Canucks can sign Troy Brouwer to a logical deal, I would have no problem slotting him anywhere in the lineup except on the first line.

Enough said. If the Canucks can pay $5.5 million or lower for this complete power forward, I am all in. They have already contacted Brouwer’s agent.

What else can I say? He’s what Logan Brown is set to become. Big, not afraid to be physical, a shooter and a playmaker, and versatile forward at the wing and the pivot. I really like the man and the Canucks should sign him after the Flames had to let him go as a restricted free agent. Would be a great trade-off for Shinkaruk!

I will be honest with you, I never thought McGinn was this good of a player. Why is he at number seven on my list when he ranked just fifth on my LW-only list?

He is young, he is one of the few players to have scored 20+ goals while in his mid-late 20’s, and he is a hard worker in all three zones. He just does well all the things that Jim Benning likes in his players. His speed should not be overlooked, either.

If the Canucks fail to connect with any of the forwards who are listed further up this list, McGinn is a must-get for the Canucks. Being the scorer he is, if the Canucks give him the opportunity to play with Bo and Sven, you can expect 20 goals from McGinn.

Next: #6 - #4

David Backes is an older version of Bo Horvat with a lot more physicality to his game. He can win faceoffs, he can provide leadership, he can play shutdown, and he can still manage to score points — he had 45 of them last year, with 21 of them being goals.

With Henrik Sedin breaking down in the faceoff circles, it may be wise to throw Backes in the middle with the two Sedins on his sides. That being said, Backes himself is not far away from being an obsolete veteran. Though going short term may be appealing for Vancouver, the fit for Backes is hard to find at this point.

A leader, a hometown favorite, a speedy 6-foot-3 monster, and a scorer who had 25 goals this past season. Ladd isn’t nearing the end of his career quite yet, and the Canucks will be wise in making a bid for Ladd on July 1st.

Having failed as the top forward for the Winnipeg Jets, Ladd is set to become a stellar second-line forward in the NHL. His high-tempo, high-pressure game is fit to be Bo Horvat’s wingman.

Again, a must-get if the four names above him on this list aren’t available for the Canucks.

I really like Kyle Okposo, but the experts seem to be on a different page. The fit with the Canucks isn’t there for the all-around power forward who had 22 goals and 64 points this past season. I would think that a hard-working Okposo could power the Sedin line, but Eriksson seems to be ahead of everyone else thanks to his superb hockey smarts.

That being said, the Canucks should still call Okposo and see if he has any interest in signing in Vancouver. I really wish the Canucks have the opportunity to play him as the right winger with Bo Horvat in a few years’ time.

Next: #3 - #1