The Vancouver Canucks started relativelly well the 2019/2020 season. The team is in the third place on Pacific Division, enough to be on the playoffs zone so far. But it is also important to think about the future. From the current roster, a total of twelve players are going to be free agents next offseason. According to Spotrac, the Canucks currently have 18.4M in projected cap space to the 2020/2021 season.
Josh Leivo
Acquired by the Canucks via trade last December, the left wing is 26 years old. He is making 1.5M this season. So far, he has emerged as a nice surprise and is having the best season of his career. Maybe it would be a good idea to keep him and give him more chances. The problem, however, is that Leivo is unrestricted.
Jake Virtanen
The New Westminster native is 23 years old and was selected by the Canucks in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He was promoted to the major league back in the 2015/2016 season, and is developing. He has a 1.25M salary this season and is a restricted free agent.
Tim Schaller
The experienced center has already played for the Buffalo Sabres and the Boston Bruins before sign a free agent contract with the Canucks in 2018. The two-year contract expires after this season, in which he makes 1.9M. He will be a unrestricted free agent.
Tyler Graovac
A depth addition, Graovac signed a one-year contract with the Canucks last July. He already played for the Minnesota Wild and Washington Capitals. He makes 700k and will be unrestricted.
Tyler Motte
The American player is 24 years old, but has already been traded twice. First, from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and then to the Canucks on February, 2018. Since, he has been an unspectacular piece to the team. Motte makes 975k and is a restricted free agent.
Adam Gaudette
The young player was selected by the Canucks in 2015. Gaudette is in his third season on the major league, with little impact on the team. He makes 916k and will be restricted.
Zack MacEwen
The center and winger current plays his second season for the Canucks. After going undrafted and having experience with minor leagues and an Anaheim Ducks training camp, MacEwen signed an entry level contract with the Canucks in 2017. The agreement expires after this season, in which he makes 847k. He will be restricted.
Christopher Tanev
The experienced player has been on the Vancouver Canucks roster since 2010. Now, he is 29 years old and makes 4.45M for the season. But he has little impact on the ice. So, don’t expect him to be back, unless it is a team friendly contract. Tanev will be unrestricted.
Troy Stecher
The defenceman has had a very limited role this season and there are rumors he can be traded before the end of his contract – he is in the last year of his second deal with the team, after he signed an entry-level deal with the Canucks when he went undrafted. He makes 2.3M and will be restricted.
Oscar Fantenberg
The Sweden has been a role player during his journeyman career in hockey. In the NHL, he has already played for the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames before being signed by the Canucks last July. He makes 850k and is an unrestricted free agent.
Ashton Sautner
Another low-level Canucks defenceman who will be a free agent next offseason is Sautner, who is going to be restricted. The 25-year old player has been relegated to the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League, and he hasn’t seen the ice for the Canucks.
Jacob Markstrom
The top Canucks goaltender is slated to be an unrestricted free agent next offseason after five years with the organisation. The Sweden goalie was acquired from the Florida Panthers in 2014. He makes 3.6M this season and is one of the most important free agents for the Canucks to take care of. The only other goalie on the roster is Thatcher Demko, who is under contract until 2021.
Vancouver Sports Wire 