The Canuck Way
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4 players that did not receive qualifying offers the Canucks could consider

By Joshua Rey

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: Nicolas Aube-Kubel #16 of the Colorado Avalanche carries the Stanley Cup following the series winning victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: Nicolas Aube-Kubel #16 of the Colorado Avalanche carries the Stanley Cup following the series winning victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The Vancouver Canucks still have not made a move this offseason. But things could change any minute. Who knows? Maybe there will be a trade by the team this article is published.

According to CapFriendly, the Canucks only have 2.14 million in cap space but thanks to Micheal Ferland being on LTIR, their cap space is likely around 5.64 million. Yeah, it isn’t much.

Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford spoke to Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet about free agency and the lack of cap space on Monday.

It’s hard not to argue with Rutherford’s comments. The Canucks should make trades for cap space but they can’t make a trade just for making the sake of making a trade. It’s best for them to think things through and be patient.

Monday was also the day qualifying offers were due for restricted free agents. Many players did not receive qualifying offers and will hit the market as unrestricted free agents.

The Canucks qualified Michael DiPietro but not Justin Bailey, Juho Lammikko and Matthew Highmore. So it looks like Rutherford, Patrik Allvin and company want to reshape the fourth line.

Let’s take a look at four players that did not receive qualifying offers on Monday. The Canucks should consider targeting them. The best part? They could sign for cheap.

#1: Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Nicolas Aube-Kubel is coming off winning the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche.

He played 14 games during the Avalanche’s run to the Cup but had zero points. In the regular season, he played seven games and got one assist with the Philadelphia Flyers before the Avalanche claimed him off waivers. Aube-Kubel provided depth for the Avalanche and in 67 games in Colorado, he scored 11 goals and managed 11 assists.

Perhaps he is best known for falling with the Stanley Cup before the team picture and damaging it in the process.

In all seriousness, Aube-Kubel is a strong forechecker and displays good two-way ability.

The 25-year-old was coming off a two-year 1.07 million dollar contract. On a one or two-year deal with a similar cap hit, Aube-Kubel could provide two-way abilities on the Canucks fourth line.

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