It’s time for another round of NHL rumours. We’re closing in on the start of the 2024-25 NHL season. However, the hot stove talk is always going. Teams have been making moves and locking down players that were set to hit the free agent market. One key forward that could head to free agency is Brock Boeser. This edition of NHL rumours deals with the Vancouver Canucks forward and where things stand for his next deal.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Vancouver Canucks Faces Make-or-Break Deal
Rumour: The latest edition of 32 Thoughts deals with Boeser and where things stand on his next deal. Both Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas speculated on if Boeser has to have a big season in order to score an extension.
Analysis: The former University of North Dakota product is entering the final year of his deal. Boeser is currently making $6.65 million per season and is looking for a raise. Boeser can sign a contract extension at any time due to him being in the final year of his current contract.
He put up 40 goals for the first time last season. However, there’s pressure on him to do that again.There have been some up-and-down seasons for the Burnsville, Minn. native. He’s had some seasons in the 20s in goals, but injuries have cut into his production.
Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin has been pretty blunt when it comes to players on the roster and contracts. Freidman mentions that maybe Allvin wants to see another level from Boeser. If that happens, Boeser will likely be taken care of.
Where Do We Go Next?
We’ve talked about Boeser’s contract in previous editions of NHL rumours. Some were thinking that he’d get a modest raise due to Canucks salary-cap restraints.
In that edition of NHL rumours, we speculated that Boeser would hopefully get somewhere between $7 million to $8 million in his next deal. That $8 million cap hit would be the same number as teammate J.T. Miller.
We have to see where the salary cap number goes up to before seeing how much Boeser will get. Some are thinking the cap will go up by nearly $4.5 million. This would allow Allvin to give Boeser a raise and still have some flexibility.
Up for the Challenge
Friedman mentions that they wouldn’t challenge Boeser if he wasn’t up to it. Some players need to be challenged and Allvin things this is the way to go with the 27-year-old winger.
It seems that Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet has put plenty of trust into Boeser. Friedman thinks that the veteran forward will deliver and earn that extension.
Boeser certainly would like a better ending to this season. His 2023-24 campaign came to end due to blood clots, but he seems to be ready to repeat last season’s success.
The pressure is on Boeser to produce this season and earn that next contract. However, he’s coming off a solid season in 2023-24. The ball is in his court to make this next deal happen.
Main photo by: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
The post NHL Rumours: Vancouver Canucks Forward Playing for Extension appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.