Vancouver Canucks: Free agent signings didn’t perform enough

Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning signed a handful of veteran free agents on cheap contract. Thomas Vanek was the only one that panned out before getting traded. Here’s a look at the ones that under-performed.

Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning seemingly learned his lesson from the mistake that was making Loui Eriksson a $36 million man, opting to stay away from pricey free agents last offseason.

Instead, Benning only signed veterans on short-term, affordable deals. Sam Gagner got three years worth $9.45 million, while Michael Del Zotto and Anders Nilsson signed two year deals, worth $5 and $6 million, respectively.

And shortly before 2017-18 began, Benning inked veteran winger Thomas Vanek on a one-year pact worth $2 million. He turned out to be an excellent pickup, mentoring rookie Brock Boeser while scoring 17 goals and 41 points in 61 games.

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However, Vanek was traded at the deadline to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Tyler Motte and Jussi Jokinen. Vanek’s Jackets are three wins away from their first playoff series victory in franchise history. an

As for the other signings, Benning can’t be at fault for trying to bring more speed and depth, and it would have looked silly to leave all that salary cap space unused.

However, it can’t be denied that Gagner, Del Zotto and Nilsson didn’t do enough in 2017-18. All three need bounce-back campaigns, if Benning doesn’t trade any of them (and he should try to).

For example, Gagner was coming off a career-best 18-goal, 50-point season with the Blue Jackets. Throw his right-handed shot and excellent speed on the ice, and the Canucks were to get a major boost.

Instead, Gagner failed in head coach Travis Green’s less-demanding system than that of John Tortorella’s in Columbus. He scored just 10 goals and 31 points, along with a mere 47.1 Corsi For percentage. It didn’t help that Gagner was often going through different linemates, but he simply wasn’t able to find his footing in Vancouver.

As for Del Zotto, he was optimistic about playing a “leadership role” with the team heading into 2017-18. But that only led to six goals, 22 points and a woeful 46.2 Corsi For percentage, as Del Zotto struggled at both ends of the ice.

With one year remaining on his contract, Del Zotto shouldn’t be too hard to deal. The Canucks need to rebuild their entire blue line, and it could start with the 27-year-old. If not, next year is likely Del Zotto’s last in Vancouver.

And as for Nilsson? He won six of his first nine starts, but things fell apart from there. From December to the end of the season, Nilsson only managed to win one more game — which didn’t  happen until Feb. 17 against the Boston Bruins. Nilsson lost his final seven start of the season.

With top goalie prospect Thatcher Demko likely making the team next year, the Canucks can’t carry three goalies. It shouldn’t be surprising if Nilsson is dealt sometime in the offseason.

Next: Vancouver Canucks: 5 takeaways from 2017-18

For the second consecutive year, Benning didn’t quite succeed in the free agent market. With the Sedin twins retired, he has plenty of cap room to make a big move. But if recent history is an indication of anything, the Canucks may be better off standing pat while allowing other teams to do the overpaying of. veteran players

*Stats courtesy of Hockey Reference*