Five way too early predictions for the Canucks offseason

The Vancouver Canucks 2021-22 NHL season has concluded and they finished 18th in the league with a 40-32-12 record with 92 points. That is five points out of a playoff spot.

The Canucks have also hit the 40 win mark and finished a season with a .500 record for the first time since 2014-15. It was also their highest point total since that season. The Canucks also managed to tie a franchise record for most points in a season where they missed the playoffs. They also got 92 points in the 2005-06 season.

A big reason the Canucks were close to a playoff spot is head coach Bruce Boudreau. Since he arrived on December 5, Vancouver has gone 32-15-10 which is 13th in the league in that period.

With Boudreau behind the bench and with him very likely getting a contract extension, there is optimism once again in Vancouver.

However, the Canucks have a big offseason ahead with numerous questions. How are they going to free up cap space? Who is getting traded? How will they fill up the prospect pool in this year’s draft? General Manager Patrik Allvin and the new management group have a lot to do.

In this article, I will make rough predictions for the Canucks offseason. Yes, it’s early since the regular season just concluded but I thought it would be fun. Also should note that I don’t really like making trade proposals but will make predictions on who will be traded. Basically don’t expect to see a prediction where I say this player is traded to this team for these specific players and draft picks.

I also don’t expect my predictions to be all correct. Like all of you, I cannot tell the future. I am no oracle. If only I was like Doctor Strange with the time stone and could see all 14,000,605 possible futures and find probably only one where the Canucks win the Stanley Cup next season. But alas, I cannot and here are my predictions.

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.

Prediction #3: Tanner Pearson gets traded

Tanner Pearson hasn’t been scoring at the rate he used to.

However, he has been useful in other ways such as winning puck battles, especially on the forecheck. Pearson isn’t a bad middle-six forward.

But he is earning 3.25 million dollars for the next two seasons and given his age (Turning 30 this August) and production (14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points this season) that is kind of an overpay. Again, the Canucks need to clear cap space and unloading him will help.

I think a contending team could use him in a bottom-six role. I do see him traded but there will likely be some salary retained. I should also note that starting this summer, Pearson’s no-trade clause becomes a modified NTC. What is going to change?  Pearson has to submit a seven-team no-trade list.

I think Pearson will be traded to a contending team or team that wants to move into contention and he can try to provide secondary offence wherever he goes.

Don’t expect, a ransom offer, however. Pearson will be traded for a mid-round pick and. or a mid-tier prospect and/or perhaps a young bottom-six forward. To avoid retaining salary, the Canucks might have to throw in a pick of their own or a prospect as a sweetener to get rid of Pearson.

Prediction #4: Juho Lammikko, Kyle Burroughs and Brad Hunt come back on one-year deals

Juho Lammikko has thrived under Bruce Boudreau but has kind of slowed down offensively ever since Tyler Motte was traded to the New York Rangers.

Lammikko’s underlying numbers aren’t the best but he has shown he can be a good forechecker and is good at winning battles along the boards. He has also shown to be decent on the face-off circle and has provided some fourth-line offence by creating opportunities.

I think the Canucks do bring him back on a cheap one-year deal. He won’t cost much and has shown he can be effective.

I also think Kyle Burroughs and Brad Hunt deserve to come back on one-year deals and I say they do. Burroughs has displayed physicality and has been decent in his own zone while Hunt has been a reliable stay-at-home defenceman for chump change.

Bringing back Burroughs, Hunt and Lammikko aren’t big moves but they could provide depth for the Canucks next year as they had this year. If they don’t do well, they can always be sent to Abbotsford without taking much cap space.