Five way too early predictions for the Canucks offseason

Prediction #1: Brock Boeser signs a three-year contract

Brock Boeser will be under the microscope this season. He needs a new contract but it won’t be easy to give him one.

There is the Canucks cap situation plus the fact he has a 7.5 million dollar qualifying offer. The qualifying offer needs to be given to Boeser so the Canucks can retain his rights so he won’t become an unrestricted free agent. The qualifying offer deadline is the Monday after the NHL draft so this year it looks like it will be July 11.

The qualifying offer puts the Canucks in a tough situation and because of that, there have been rumours of Boeser being traded. That is an appealing move because the Canucks can clear cap space and gets assets (like a young right-handed defenceman and draft picks) for Boeser.

However, that is also risky as Boeser could blossom somewhere else so I think he is worth keeping around.

I’m predicting Boeser will stay in Vancouver and sign a three-year deal shortly before the qualifying offer deadline. It will have an AAV of around six million. I think short-term is the way to go with Boeser. It would sort of be kind of like a show-me contract. Can Boeser prove is capable of scoring at least 20 goals a season? Can he consistently score and stay healthy? Will he finally break out next season?

Sure six million might seem a bit steep and it is risky given that amount of money if Boeser continues to be inconsistent and has injury troubles, but it could pay off if he does be the player we all know he can be.

It’s going to be a tricky situation for Boeser this offseason.

Rick Dhaliwal on Friday’s edition of Donnie and Dhali: The Team reports that the Canucks are looking to re-sign Boeser and are open to a short-term or a long-term deal.

Prediction #2: Tyler Myers gets traded with salary retained and Conor Garland goes with him

Tyler Myers is a big guy and he has a big contract.

He is getting paid six million dollars for the next two seasons. With the Canucks wanting to clear cap space, Myers could be a piece to trade.

However, it won’t be easy. While Myers did put up some offence with 18 points and is good at skating into the offensive zone and can drive to the net, he is not that good in his own zone. Myers is often getting caught flat-footed and turning the puck away. While he is 6’8″, he isn’t a very fast skater.

If the Canucks were to trade Myers or any of their other bloated contracts, they would have to retain salary and throw in a “sweetener.”

Conor Garland comes to mind. While he had a rough second half, Garland had 14 points in the final 12 games of the season and finished the year with 19 goals and 33 assists for 52 points. The assists and points were career-high numbers for him.

Garland was also tied for the Canucks lead for points at 5 on 5 with J.T. Miller with 47. He was also third on the team in Corsi for at 5 on 5 53.02% according to NaturalStatTrick.

Teams may like the winger’s quickness and agility as well his ability to produce points. I’m not exactly sure where to, but I think Garland could be shipped off with Myers in a trade. That way, the Canucks might get a draft pick and maybe a prospect and a young player.