Vancouver Canucks: Top 15 unrestricted free-agent targets

July 1st for the Vancouver Canucks is a double-edged sword.

Oh, the difference one season makes for the Vancouver Canucks. Back then, the Canucks had hopes of reaching the playoffs. They signed Loui Eriksson, the third Sedin, to a $42 million contract. That was 2016.

Eriksson is just one of the many reasons Vancouver fans may be apprehensive of July 1st, more commonly known as the NHL free-agency frenzy on Canada Day.

The Canucks cannot afford to make another mistake in the open market.

Free agency is great — don’t get me wrong. There are certainly many intriguing names out there. The Canucks have lots of money to throw into the open market, especially now that Ryan Miller seems destined to play in Anaheim next year.

This is where teams cash in for complimentary assets and the occasional underrated steal. Rarely, teams swing for the fences and go all in on top players. So then, what should the Canucks be looking out for?

The Rebuild: Younger the better

The Canucks have no reason to sign players on the wrong side of 30 to multi-year contracts. It would be wise for Benning to sign a “reclamation project” or two who are under 25 years old and are worth investing in.

Vancouver already has Jacob Markstrom. The Canucks do not need a starting netminder. Youth is coming, if not here already. The lineup is already looking pretty full with the arrival of Brock Boeser, Nikolay Goldobin, Griffen Molino and potentially of Jake Virtanen.

Use common sense. Be a rebuilding team.

Contract: Overpaying is okay, too much term is NOT

In this day and age, virtually all contracts are tradeable. Whether they are protected by no-movement clauses or are paying players $5 million more than they really are worth, teams find ways to retain salary and trade for assets.

That is, unless the contract drags on for years and years.

The Canucks should give contracts that are short enough to be traded, especially at this year’s free trade deadline. They can overpay in free agency and retain salary later. They can’t afford to commit long-term, though.

The need for size, skill and speed

These are the needs that GM Jim Benning identified, which are pretty much everything that everyone looks for in NHL players.

These were the criteria used to compile this list of free agents the Canucks could target. Without further ado, here are the 15 players that the Canucks could sign this free agency.

No. 15: Viktor Stalberg

Viktor Stalberg has size. He has speed. He isn’t at the most ideal age but seeing that the Ottawa Senators still want to keep him around, there is still a place for Stalberg in the NHL. The Canucks would welcome a bottom-six forward with this enticing mix of speed and size.

Age: 31
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 209 lbs
2016-17 Stats: 75GP – 11G – 16PTS
2016-17 Salary: $1.5 million

With Stalberg’s size and speed, there is a lot the Canucks could do in the bottom-six group. A speedy line could have Stalberg and Griffen Molino (another speedster, in case you forgot) as wingmen for Brandon Sutter. This line would be quite solid defensively.

A checking line with Stalberg could see him play with Brendan Gaunce and Jake Virtanen, if not Derek Dorsett. This line would not be a defensive liability, either. Would Gaunce benefit offensively by playing with a speedy winger like Stalberg?

After being traded to the Ottawa Senators late this season, Stalberg did not impress during the playoffs. He had just two assists in 17 playoff games.What this means is that Stalberg may not have the bargaining chips to demand a high salary. Expect him to be available at just over a million dollars.

What this means is that Stalberg may not have the bargaining chips to demand a high salary. Expect him to be available at just over a million dollars per year.

No. 14: Brandon Pirri

Brandon Pirri is a skilled forward, quite the opposite of Stalberg in many ways. Pirri doesn’t have the size, nor does he have the stunning speed. Then why should the Canucks want him on July 1st?

He is young. Much younger than Stalberg. Also, there is a reason to believe that Pirri is due for a decent season.

Age: 26
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 186 lbs
2016-17 Stats: 60GP – 8G – 18Pts
2016-17 Salary: $1.1 million

Pirri does have a 20-goal season under his belt, as well as a 29-point season. As a young player with skill, the Canucks wouldn’t mind signing him to a multi-year contract, perhaps at even three years. Most would be comfortable with just two years, though.

Why do I like Pirri right now for the Canucks? He is coming off a season in which he recorded, for the first time in his career, a positive relative Corsi For. That may be a sign of better things to come for Pirri. He may be finding his stride entering his prime years.

For a Vancouver team that struggled mightily on the offensive side of things, a young and skilled player like Pirri is worth trying out. He won’t cost too much anyhow.

No.13: Roman Polak

Roman Polak may not be the first name on one’s mind when it comes to adding to the blueline, but the veteran defenseman adds size to any given NHL roster.

Age: 31
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 235 lbs
2016-17 Stats: 75GP – 4G – 11PTS
2016-17 Salary: $2.25

Even though Polak is on the wrong side of 31 and is coming off a sub-par offensive production, he is still a pretty decent fit for the Canucks. After losing out of Nikita Tryamkin and Luca Sbisa in the offseason, there is nothing that prevents Jim Benning from looking to Polak to add some size on the blueline.

Especially if Jordan Subban and Troy Stecher are to make the team anytime soon, they will need more Polaks to make up for the size difference in the NHL.

Another reason Polak is a good fit in Vancouver is his history with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has spent the past three seasons in Toronto during a time of growth and rebuild. He knows how the kids need to grow and he knows how he should be as a veteran in a rebuilding team.

No. 12: Dwight King

Forward Dwight King, the former Los Angeles King, is coming off of a 16-point season. That career-low number might scare teams away despite the fact that King has just entered his prime years.

Age: 27
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 229 lbs
2016-17 Stats: 80GP – 9G – 16PTS
2016-17 Salary: $1.95 million

King is a fantastic checking forward and with the size he possesses, he would be a great bottom-six pickup for the Canucks. A small red flag here would be that his skating is not great and he has not much offensive output.

But since King makes his living battling in the corners and in front of the net, that should not be a problem too big for the Canucks to stomach. Plus, the career-low production last season would perhaps let Vancouver sign King to a cheaper contract. He didn’t have a great postseason either, without a point to show for in six games. But the Canucks don’t need to worry about the playoffs anytime soon.

No. 11: Paul Postma

Continuing with the theme of big forwards and defensemen, here is how Paul Postma could fit in for the Canucks.

Age: 28
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 195 lbs
2016-17 Stats: 65GP – 1G – 14PTS
2016-17 Salary: $887 000

As already mentioned with Polak, Postma’s size is desperately needed by this Canucks defense lacking Tryamkin and Sbisa. They tried to fill that need by signing Andrey Pedan to an extension but that is not nearly enough.

Postma has the upper hand on Polak because he is three years younger and likely comes a bit cheaper. He also has the offensive abilities that Polak lacks and projects to be a 20-point defenseman when healthy for a whole season.

For a Canucks team only without much offense from the back end, Postma may be able to add to both the size and the offense on the back end.

No. 10: Ryan Murphy

Having been bought out by the Calgary Flames last week, Ryan Murphy is one of the youngest names out there in the open market. Though there are reasons that led the Flames to buy Murphy out, Vancouver could sign the undersized defenseman to a low-risk, high-reward contract as a reclamation project.

Age: 24
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 185 lbs
2016-17 Stats: 27GP – 2A – 2PTS
2016-17 Salary: $787 500

The 11th overall pick from the 2012 entry draft had great offensive potential until he reached the NHL and he struggled to develop as a reliable player. He has no leverage in contract talks due to his buyout situation and would be available at near league minimum.

If the Canucks could pull together another reclamation project in Murphy and have Travis Green put his career back on track, Vancouver may end up with a great offensive defenseman by the time Murphy gets into his prime years.

It’s worth a shot, even if it is on an AHL deal.

No. 9: Matt Hunwick

Here is a name that has interested GM Jim Benning already. Here’s why it could make sense to sign Matt Hunwick to a small deal.

Age: 32
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 200 lbs
2016-17 Stats: 72GP – 1G – 19PTS
2016-17 Salary: $1.2 million

Matt Hunwick isn’t the best fit for this group at age 32. His lack of size is also not something that is really welcomed by the blueline. However, Hunwick has the skating ability and the defensive acumen to block shots.

More importantly, Hunwick served as the alternate captain for the young Toronto Maple Leafs team. His leadership could be very useful for the rebuilding Canucks.

With Jim Benning’s history with the Boston Bruins as their assistant GM, Hunwick’s playing career in Boston may land him a gig with the Canucks this coming season. If Hunwick is signed to a long-term contract, however, it would be a disastrous offseason once again for Vancouver.

No. 8: Tyler Pitlick

As a 25-year-old in Edmonton, Tyler Pitlick was behind so many other young forwards. This year, he scored at a rate that would give him nearly 30 points in a full 82-game season. Canucks could look to sign Pitlick as he looks to prove himself NHL-ready.

Age: 25
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 202 lbs
2016-17 Stats: 31GP – 8G – 11PTS
2016-17 Salary: $725 000

Pitlick is coming off of a career year but the Oilers are not signing the young forward. Pitlick is a great depth winger for the Canucks and while Vancouver might not have the space for another young depth player, Pitlick could be a steal too difficult to pass by.

Perhaps not a total reclamation project by any means, Pitlick may be just entering his prime years. Imagine if Travis Green can push Pitlick to the next level and see him produce at a half-a-point pace? That would be a steal seeing that Pitlick is likely available at less than $2 million per year.

Pitlick is strong and he works hard when he is on the ice. If Vancouver wants to take a chance in free agency with a low-risk, high-reward move, he is one of their top choices.

No. 7: Cody Franson

Good ol’ Cody Franson, the Sicamous, B. C. native. The defenseman has always been linked to the Vancouver Canucks, but could this be the year that Franson comes back home?

Age: 29
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 224 lbs
2016-17 Stats: 68GP – 3G – 19PTS
2016-17 Salary: $3.325 million

Not too many defensemen in the NHL have the mix of offensive potential and size like Franson does. His shot would probably be the best one on the Canucks blueline, should he sign here. He would be the largest and heaviest defenseman in Vancouver, too.

And when considering he has had a rather lacking year this past season with just two power play points, Franson may be available for a cheap price on a three-year contract.

If Franson is willing to stomach a hometown discount, the Canucks would be happy to have him to play with Ben Hutton or Troy Stecher as a dynamic offensive duo with the size to be effective.

No. 5: Anders Nilsson

While the rumours say that Anders Nilsson is already on his way to Vancouver, here are the reasons why that is a great move for Vancouver’s goaltending situation.

Age: 27
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 229 lbs
2016-17 Stats: 26 GP – 10W – 10L – 2.67 GAA – .923 Sv%
2016-17 Salary: $1 million

Another big Swede in net? That could certainly be the case as Jacob Markstrom’s 2010 World Juniors teammate could push Markstrom to earn his starts. Though Nilsson has proven to let in the occasional soft goal here and there, working with the Canucks and their goaltender training staff could really elevate his game.

This is a nice way to create competition for Markstrom. It is difficult to battle for the crease between two NHL netminders and bringing in a fellow countryman and a teammate is a great way to go for the Canucks.

Update: 

No. 4: Sam Gagner

The long-time Edmonton Oiler is looking for a chance to prove himself as a reliable NHL player after proving his offensive instincts with the Columbus Blue Jackets this past season.

Age: 27
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 200 lbs
2016-17 Stats: 81 GP – 18 G – 50 PTS
2016-17 Salary: $650 000

On the offensive side of things, the sky is the limit for Gagner. As a playmaker, he put up 32 points. He also is an asset in shootout situations, even though that part of the game is being slowly phased out by the NHL.

For a dying Canucks power play, Gagner sounds like a blessing for the hockey gods.

But the Canucks have many young players that need to develop with other defensively reliable veterans. Gagner isn’t the biggest of players either. Would he be a fit on a rebuilding Canucks team? He certainly is a mixed bag of good and bad.

Update:

No. 3: Nail Yakupov

Another long-time Oiler now looking for a new home after a shaky season is Nail Yakupov. The former first overall draft pick is now a fringe NHL player and looking to prove himself worthy of the NHL.

Age: 23
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 195 pounds
2016-17 Stats: 40 GP – 3G – 9PTS
2016-17 Salary: $2.75 million

As one of the youngest players available, Yakupov is likely going to come dirt-cheap. His offensive instincts are undeniably good but his ability to think the game at the NHL level and be responsible defensively have been questionable.

But as everyone says, if Yakupov and Travis Green find magical chemistry and find ways to get Yakupov playing at the level everyone knows he can, there is nothing stopping me from projecting Yakupov as a future top-six forward with much offense and little defensive weaknesses.

For those reasons, a rebuild may welcome a Yakupov or two to develop into steals.

No. 2: Michael Del Zotto

Michael Del Zotto is a left-handed defenseman who averaged about 20 minutes a night for the Philadelphia Flyers last season. His mobility and offensive capabilities may be good enough to re-ignite the Canucks powerplay under the returning Newell Brown.

Age: 26
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 195 lbs
2016-17 Stats: 51GP – 6G – 18PTS
2016-17 Salary: $3.875 million

Del Zotto is an all-around mobile defenseman who isn’t perfect defensively but skates well enough to make up for his mistakes. The Canucks have gotten rid of Sbisa and his blunders. Therefore, now may be the time to take on Del Zotto and his occasional mistakes.

He likely makes slightly less than what he got last year and at his age, the Canucks may be willing to add him for a few years. As a very Ben Hutton-esque player, perhaps MDZ would free up Hutton as a potential trade chip.

Update:

No. 1: Karl Alzner

Topping off our list is defenseman Karl Alzner, the Burnaby native who is looking for a big raise after proving himself with the Washington Capitals. Alzner ticks off almost all the boxes for the Canucks.

Alzner is a top-four defenseman with the size to be effective physically in the defensive zone. He also has good mobility, an asset he uses to move the puck with ease skating it out as well as distributing.

Age: 28
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 219 lbs
2016-17 Stats: 82GP – 3G – 13PTS
2016-17 Salary: $2.8

There are only a few minor reasons Alzner would not be the right fit for the Canucks. He isn’t young enough to see this rebuild through and be part of the new core. He isn’t a point-getter like Del Zotto is.

In addition, Alzner is looking for a long-term contract, rumoured at 5-6 years at north of $5.5 per. Would he be willing to take on a “hometown discount” with the Canucks?

Otherwise, he is a perfect fit for this organisation.

He brings size to a blueline that lost Luca Sbisa and Nikita Tryamkin this offseason. He uses his size well to protect the puck and is mobile enough to skate it out.

Next: Top 5 low-profile UFAs to target

More than anything else, the addition of size as well as the ability to move the puck allows the Canucks to explore trades. Yes, that includes trading Chris Tanev and Erik Gudbranson.