- Jim Jamieson of the Vancouver Province: The Canucks have 17 players under contract for next season at about $66 million. If the five percent escalator is used, the cap ceiling could be round $71 million. The Canucks need to clear some cap space. It’s unlikely that the Canucks will be in on the free agent market, unless they can move out some salaries. UFA Shawn Matthias isn’t expected back. They are expected to re-sign Brad Richardson.The Canucks have five blueliners under contract and four pending RFA defenseman, all of which will be subject to waivers.
It’s expected that they will trade RFA goalie Jacob Markstrom.
Trading soon to be 34-year old defenseman Kevin Bieksa would clear some cap space. He has one-year left at a $4.6 million cap hit. They could get a bigger return for 32-year defenseman Dan Hamhuis. Would Radim Vrbata (33-years old, $5 million cap hit) or Alex Burrows (34-years old, $4.5 million cap hit) agree to waive their modified no-trade clauses?
- Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: The Canucks haven’t drafted a defenseman in the first round in 10 years. The Coyotes are listening to offers for their third overall pick – the Canucks could use a franchise defenseman like Noah Hanifin or Ivan Provorov – but it would take a very enticing package for the Canucks to move up from No. 23. Canucks GM Jim Benning:
“To get that pick, they would want Bo Horvat and I’m not interested in anything like that because we want our top prospects and I feel comfortable at No. 23,” Benning said Thursday from Utica, where he’s watching the AHL affiliate Comets in the Calder Cup final and meeting with his pro scouts. “We’re just starting to get some depth now with our young prospects and I don’t want to give any of them up because they’re further along on the development curve. I’m not willing to sacrifice the depth or our prospects pool.”
Benning is looking to recoup some second and third round picks.
“We’ve talked to lots of GMs to get a general feel for what’s going on in the marketplace and we’re going to try and recover a second-round pick if we can,” added Benning.
On asking a player like Kevin Bieksa about his no-trade clause.
“I haven’t talked about that (NTC clauses), but at our pro meetings we’re talking about our options and what direction we want to go with the goalies,” said Benning. “Once we get out of these meetings, we’ll have a better idea and act upon what we decide.”
Benning on draft targets at No. 23.
“We have four or five guys that we have interest in at No. 23, but we’re not necessarily looking for need or fit, we looking for the best player available to develop over time.”