Vancouver Canucks: 4 Remaining UFA Targets

Lucas Lessio

by Gerald Morton

There are two ways for the Vancouver Canucks to approach a free-agent signing. (This is obviously untrue, but for simplicity’s sake let’s all agree on this lie). The Canucks can either sign a player to help now or they can sign a player to develop. Since the more obvious, and useful, players like Jiri Hudler or Brandon Pirri are already written about, I am going to go the other way. I’m going to suggest someone who is young, a possible bust, but perhaps a hidden gem.

The Vancouver Canucks should sign Lucas Lessio.

I’ll wait while you look him up.

Pros:

Lucas Lessio is only 23 years old. He is a left winger, and the Canucks are thin at left wing. He was a productive offensive player in junior, scoreing 147 points in 167 games with the Oshawa Generals. He is a relatively productive AHL player, having scored 108 points in 165 games.

He is a good skater with size, physical skills and some offensive talent. In a league that is short on left-wing talent, and for a team that is practically devoid of it, taking a chance on Lessio may pay dividends in a couple of years.

Cons:

He’s basically Derek Dorsett. That’s fine. Derek Dorsett is a perfectly serviceable NHL fourth-line winger. But, the Canucks have a slightly used Derek Dorsett already. Lucas Lessio is a bottom-six player with limited upside.

But that’s the key – there is still upside. For very little money and no risk, the Vancouver Canucks might replace most of the things Dorsett does for less.

Outlook:

Don’t believe everything you read, Lucas Lessio isn’t going to be a hidden gem. At least, he’s not going to be a diamond in the rough. But he might be a semi-precious stone. (I know this is an awful metaphor and these are terrible cliches. But I’m kind of enjoying them and I need to entertain myself a little bit too).

But he could be a serviceable NHL player, and an upgrade on an expensive fourth-fourth line left winger. For those reasons, I think he is worth a shot.

If I’m wrong, and the Vancouver Canucks realize he is an AHL player, they haven’t overpaid for a veteran who is going to take the spot of a prospect while improving the team marginally.

Next: Outlook