Vancouver Canucks: It might be time to move on from Alexander Edler

The Vancouver Canucks and Alexander Edler haven’t made progress on a contract extension, and it may be best for both sides to move on.

Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning didn’t end up dealing top blueliner Alexander Edler at the trade deadline, which was a good sign that the 33-year-old would finish his career on the west coast.

If Edler wanted to chase a championship, he would have waived his no-trade clause and look for a trade. The Canucks never seemed that keen on trading Edler anyway, so the immediate hope was that the two parties would be able to work out a contract extension in the offseason.

However, Rick Dhaliwal of Sportsnet 650 reported two weeks ago that there is “lots of work to do” in regards to a new contract for Edler. In an interview last week with Jeff Paterson of TSN 1040, Benning wouldn’t provide updates on contract talks, but that they’re working on a deal that “makes sense for” the Canucks.

With Edler now 33 years of age, it’s safe to say that this will be his last big contract in the NHL.

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He’s going to want to be paid for what he’s worth, after signing a team-friendly six-year extension worth $30 million during the 2012-13 season.

But because of Edler’s age and long injury history, the Canucks have to be cautious in handing him a new contract.

Anything longer than three years is too risky, and who knows how much of a hometown discount he’d be willing to take?

Just take at how many times the Canucks extended a veteran player long-term, only to see it backfire mightily. Alexandre Burrows, Brandon Sutter and Chris Higgins come to mind, among others.

So if Edler is looking at earning max value on a deal worth four or more years, the Canucks need to make the right choice and let him leave in free agency. Benning can always look for a cheaper and younger replacement on July 1st anyway.

Losing Edler would be a blow for the Canucks — on and off the ice. Also, Benning would once again strike out in receiving assets for a veteran UFA, but if that’s what it has to come to, so be it.

Realistically, Edler has two or three prime years left at most. The Canucks are going to be in a salary cap bind down the road, when Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes eventually sign massive extensions.

That’s why Benning has to think long-term and realize that it’d be best to avoid hanging out a contract that could be a problem when this team is hopefully contending again.