- Brad Zimer of the Vancouver Sun: The Canucks don’t figure to be big players in the free agent pool this year as they have little cap space.
“We are up against it with the salary cap so unless we can move some money, then we’re not really in that free agent marketplace,” Benning said Monday.
The Canucks have about $3.65 million in cap space with 19 players under contract – 12 forwards, five defensemen and two goalies. They have three RFAs that they need to sign: Yannick Weber, Sven Baertschi and Frank Corrado.
GM Jim Benning said they may look at some of the lesser free agents, but will be looking at the trade market.
“We don’t have a lot of cap room,” Benning said. “We’re going to try to be maybe in the trade market. We’re looking at some free agents. I don’t want to say we’re totally out of the free agent market, but we’re not going to be in the high end of it.
“We’re still going to look at the market and just see how it falls out, and if we can add a piece here or a piece there that we think can help our group, we’ll do that. But we won’t be in the same marketplace we were last year.”
Trading Kevin Bieksa could free up as much as $4.6 million, and he was almost dealt to the Sharks. If the Canucks do find some cap space, they could look at a defensman.
“We have needs but depending on how much money we have to work with will dictate the calibre of player that we’ll be talking about,” he said. “If we did have extra money we would probably use it to add a defenceman.”
Cody Franson could be near the top of their wishlist.
- Elliotte Friedman: The Coyotes didn’t qualify John Moore and Mark Arcobello. Someone should have room to add Arcobello.
- Brian Compton: The Islanders could look at John Moore. Thinking that he could fit the depth on the blueline that they are looking for.
- Aaron Portzline: Wouldn’t be a surprise if the Blue Jackets were interested Moore. They didn’t like having to put him in the Marian Gaborik trade.