On the Vancouver Canucks …
Mike Halford of The Athletic: Centers that the Vancouver Canucks could consider looking at this offseason.
Tyler Bozak – The 32-year old and pending UFA has been tied to the Canucks for a while. Bozak has stated that his top choice is to remain with Maple Leafs but he’ll likely be playing elsewhere next season. He could be looking for one last big deal, which is why the Canucks could be an option. They could give him a two- or three-year deal with a higher cap hit. Bozak’s agency is Newport Sports which also represents Bo Horvat, Chris Tanev and Michael Del Zotto.
Jason Spezza – Spezza struggled under coach Ken Hitchcock, but he’s no longer there. He may not be more than a No. 3 or No. 4 center. He has another year left at a $7.5 million and the Stars may want to move his contract.
Par Lindholm – Elliotte Friedman had reported the Canucks had a shot at signing him. (Since the writing of this article it appears that he will be signing with the Maple Leafs)
Valtteri Filppula – The 34-year old is a responsible two-way center and is best suited as a bottom-six center.
Riley Nash – The 28-year old will be looking for a nice raise from his $900,000 salary cap hit. Nash was born in Alberta but raised in Kamloops and has a place in Shuswap.
Derek Ryan – 31-year old pending UFA. He could be a buy-low candidate.
On John Tavares …
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Elliotte Friedman was on WGR 550 radio in Buffalo on Monday. Friedman thinks that John Tavares will go through the free agent window and talk to teams. Tavares could still go back to the Islanders, but he could listen to others.
Friedman thinks if Tavares is going to talk teams, why wouldn’t the Buffalo Sabres be one of the teams interested.
“I think that loyalty does mean something to him,” indicated Friedman. “He’s a very loyal guy. I think the Islanders, they would really like to get some clarity from him, one way or the other. But I think it’s honest and legit with him in the sense that I think he’s really torn. I do think he wants to stay there. He’s built something there. He is a very loyal guy.”