Vancouver Canucks: Top 5 Remaining Free Agents to Target
By David Joun
No. 2: Nick Spaling
A member of the San Jose Sharks team that lost in the Stanley Cup Final this year, Spaling was limited to just the fourth line in the playoffs. A former Toronto Maple Leaf, Spaling isn’t well known in Vancouver at all.
Position: Forward
Height / Weight: 6-foot-1, 198 lbs
Age: 27
2015-16 Stats: 58 GP — 3 Goals — 10 Assists — 13 Points
2015-16 Salary: $2.2 million
Expected UFA Salary: $1.8 million
Nick Spaling is another bonafide bottom-six player with a great defensive acumen. He is used on the penalty kill and is a player who can play both the wing and the middle. He is a faceoff specialist, having won 53.8 percent of his draws as a Shark last season.
Although not the biggest man at 6-foot-1, Spaling checks well and works hard to make up for his lack of great size. The lack of offensive upside may be the only thing missing from his game that is holding him back from being a potential top-six player.
The Canucks could use a meat-and-potatoes player like Spaling to pad their depth of all-around players down the middle. With Bo Horvat and Brandon Sutter both being capable two-way players, Spaling could second Sutter a defensive shutdown forward on the fourth line instead of Markus Granlund.
Spaling, mind you, is still just 27 years old.
Suggested Line:
A. Burrows -N. Spaling – J. Hansen
The hard-working Spaling may be the best way to cover for an aging-yet-still-versatile Alex Burrows.
Next: No. 1: LAURI KORPIKOSKI