Alex Chiasson reportedly heading to Switzerland next season

The Vancouver Canucks might have one less UFA to focus on for next season.

According to a few reports, 31-year-old forward Alex Chiasson could be heading to Switzerland to continue to his professional hockey career.

The news was first shared on Tuesday afternoon, when Swiss broadcaster Omar Gargantini reported that Chiasson could be on his way to HC Lugano of the National League, Switerzland’s top professional hockey organization.

Local insider Rick Dhaliwal confirmed the reports a few hours later, while also sharing that the Canucks organization still hadn’t made a decision on Chiasson and his future in Vancouver.

Chiasson first joined the Canucks right before the start of the 2021-22 season, signing a professional tryout contract before eventually inking a one-year, $750,000 deal at the end of training camp.

Prior to joining Vancouver, Chiasson played with five other NHL clubs, including Dallas, Ottawa, Calgary, Washington and Edmonton, where he registered career-highs in goals (22) and points (38). Chiasson also added a Stanley Cup championship ring to his collection back in 2018, where he scored two points in 16 games with the Capitals.

Chiasson was initially criticized by many fans in Vancouver after his poor productivity on the team’s fourth line and first powerplay unit, but he was able to turn his game around in the latter half of the season, much like many of his teammates.

Chiasson finished the season with 13 goals and nine assists in 67 games, including 11 points in the final 12 contests of the year. Of those 22 points, Chiasson also managed to notch four goals and six assists on the man advantage, putting him tied for fifth in team scoring ahead of players like Conor Garland, Nils Höglander and Tanner Pearson.

Chiasson was also present for the team’s year-end media availability, stating that it “would be an honour” to come back to the Canucks’ organization next season.

However, with Brock Boeser coming off the final season of his three-year, $17.625 million bridge deal, as well as both J.T. Miller and Bo Horvat heading into the last year of their current deals, Chiasson will likely be lower on management’s to-do list, granted he doesn’t head over to Europe.

What are your thoughts on the Chiasson rumours? Let us know in the comments!