We have another round of NHL rumors ready to go. It’s the middle of August, and sometimes the hot stove can be turned off to save fuel. However, it can be restarted in a short period of time. General managers are constantly thinking about the future and contracts for their players. The Vancouver Canucks made a significant improvement last season, and one forward in particular contributed to that turnaround. Today’s NHL rumours focus on what that player’s next contract could look like.
All NHL rumors originate from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Possible Contract Numbers for Vancouver Canucks Forward
Rumour: Patrick Johnston of The Province looked at the next deal for forward Brock Boeser. The former University of North Dakota product is in the final year of a contract that pays him $6.65 million.
Analysis: Boeser scored a career-high 40 goals for the Canucks this past season. He has clearly earned a reputation as one of the league’s best wingers. However, one wonders if he has done enough to get a significant pay boost.
The 27-year-old might receive that salary if he has another career-best season for a squad on the rise. A trade for Boeser is likely to be a major priority for Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin.
However, what would a new contract look like for the Burnsville, Minnesota native? Boeser deserves a raise, but how much will he get?
A Contract Template
Johnston suggested that Boeser adopt J.T. Miller’s contract as a blueprint for a new arrangement. Miller signed a seven-year contract with a $8 million cap hit. Boeser would be two years younger than when Miller signed his contract.
That might provide Boeser with a sizable sum of money as well as a long-term contract that will last into his mid-30s. However, one wonders what will work for the Canucks and Boeser’s agent, Ben Hankinson.
Boeser has a lot of ice time in key situations and undoubtedly wants to be rewarded accordingly. Head coach Rick Tocchet has put a lot of faith in the American winger, so it’s understandable that he wants to see a pay increase.
Other Comparisons
Johnston also mentioned other forwards who may be a model for Boeser’s next deal. The Daily Faceoff examined a handful of forwards who were entering their 30s when a contract came up.
Tyler Toffoli, Mats Zucarello, Alex Radulov, Paul Stastny, John Tavares, Artemi Panarin, and Zach Hyman were all reviewed, as were their contracts. Those accords demonstrate that Boeser will deliver good value over the first couple of seasons. However, Father Time is unstoppable, and the inevitable productivity reduction will occur.
All of this adds up to a raise for Boeser, but Vancouver is unlikely to give him much more than that. The $8 million cap hit that Miller received may not be in the cards for Boeser. When all is said and done, Boeser may receive somewhere between $7 million and $7.5 million. That is, if another club does not overbid him when he enters the open market.
