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NHL Free Agency: Who the Canucks are targeting and who they may land

Published

4 months ago

June 30, 2024

With Guentzel’s negotiation rights traded to Tampa, Reinhart expected to stay in Florida, the Canucks could be running out of UFA options. Or, maybe not

The Canucks could be going down the UFA reunion road with Tyler Toffoli if Jake Guentzel signs in Tampa and Sam Reinhart stays in Florida. Photo by Claus Andersen /Getty Images

Location. Location. Location.

That common refrain is the first thing a real-estate agent tries to sell to a prospective homeowner. For an NHL general manager selling his club’s qualities at, or before commencement of free agency Monday morning, the pitch remains the same.

Location can mean filling a roster need. It can mean competitive trajectory. It can mean what the city offers. If the Vancouver Canucks can convince a free agent of those attractive qualities, then they can tackle the bottom line in a bottom-line business where salary and terms are the foundation of any deal.

And because Florida is a tax-free state, the Panthers and Lightning may have a leg up on the Canucks in retaining a star player or attracting one.

Highly-coveted, top-six winger Jake Guentzel, 29, has been on the Vancouver radar longer than a weather forecast during monsoon season. His Pittsburgh Penguins history with the hockey operations department and its willingness to exceed financial demands for the proven playoff performer — he was offered an eight-year, US$64 million deal to remain with the Carolina Hurricanes — was thought to be goods to get Guentzel to the west coast.

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However, with Tampa Bay not expected to retain versatile veteran UFA Steven Stamkos, 34, — they’ve offered shorter annual value and longer term at $3 million annual for eight years — they’ll need to fill that big void and are hot after Guentzel. The pitch is promise of the clubs’s competitive stature and that tax-free state carrot.

And it will help the Bolts keep pace with the Panthers. It’s why Tampa responded by trading for negotiation rights for Guentzel, which means they’re sold on getting a deal done in advance of Monday. It cost the Lightning a third-round draft pick in 2025.

It doesn’t mean the Canucks are out of the mix, but it does mean the price is going skyrocket if he gets to the open market. However, in the end, players want the money and they want to win. The Canucks’ core would be attractive to Guentzel and so would $9.5 million annually in a seven-year commitment.

The same hope applies to UFA Sam Reinhart with an added twist.

The North Vancouver native, 28, is Plan B on the Canucks’ wish list, but his remarkable 57-goal season and prominence to help the Panthers capture their first Stanley Cup has the Panthers talking extension, but they also have to sign Brandon Montour and may have to choose. If a Reinhart deal comes to fruition, then UFA Tyler Toffoli, 32, could be Plan C, if the Los Angeles Kings don’t come calling. Anze Kopitar needs a left winger.

And then maybe Jake DeBrusk, 27, turns into Plan D. Or, maybe there’s a Plan E?

If the Canucks tumble too far down that alphabet plan, then they’ll need two wingers. The big catch is designed to align with Elias Pettersson, but who’s manning the left side with J.T. Miller? Pius Suter saw time there this season, but is probably better suited as the third line centre and Teddy Blueger the fourth-line pivot.

And how is the back end going to play out with the expected free-agency departure of UFA defenceman Nikita Zadorov? It’s why with Chris Tanev, 34, joining the Toronto Maple Leafs, there’s interest in Surrey native Brenden Dillon, 33, of the Winnipeg Jets. He will be pursued by the New Jersey Devils in free agency and there’s a second thought here on Ian Cole not getting to the market.

Here’s a look at how all this was shaping up Sunday:

Jake Guentzel

The goods: Has had a pair of 40-goal seasons and 38 goals in 69 playoff games, including four in six Stanley Cup Final outings. He’s a finisher on the biggest stage and doesn’t shy away from the spotlight. His 30 goals in 67 games this season with the Penguins and Hurricanes were a warm-up for the second season where he struck four times in 11 games.

Earned a Stanley Cup ring in 2016 as a Penguins rookie and his 21 points (13-8) in 25 playoff games were a hint of future potential.

The price: To cover off the tax break Guentzel could get in Tampa, the Canucks will have had to come in north of $9 million in annual average value.

Sam Reinhart

The goods: His monster career-high 57 goals in the regular season ranked second overall and he was first with 27 on the power play. Added 10 post-season goals to prove he could more than live up to the grind. Gets to the tough areas and scored a lot in front of the net in high slot with a very quick and deceptive release. Very humble. Just goes out and does this thing.

In 2021, the Canucks could have made a play for the disgruntled Reinhart who wanted out of Buffalo, but they went another way in a multiplayer swap that summer with the Arizona Coyotes.

The price: His expiring cap hit of $6.5 million will get a big boost. He’ll get market value, which means at least $8 million in AAV.

alt text — Canucks winger Tyler Toffoli celebrates his goal with linemate Elias Pettersson against the Senators on Feb. 27, 2020. Photo by Marc DesRosiers /USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Toffoli

The goods: Surpassed the 30-goal total last two seasons with 33 in 2023-24 split between New Jersey Devils and Jets and 34 the previous season with the Calgary Flames. We know the history here. Toffoli developed instant chemistry with Pettersson and Miller and had 10 points (6-4) in his first 10 games after being acquired in a February, 2020 trade with the Los Angeles Kings. COVID-19 then shut down the regular season.

Toffoli loved it here and wanted to finish his career in Vancouver. However, he wasn’t offered a contract and four days into free agency, he fled to the Montreal Canadiens at a bargain $4.25 million cap hit. Toffoli torched the Canucks the following season in eight Canadian Division games with 13 points (8-5), including a hat trick.

The price: Likely his last contract and the fit, familiarity and city might get it done. Shorter term and $5 million? Wants more which the Kings could offer.

Jake DeBrusk

The goods: Not the first time the big winger has been in speculation as a possible Canucks fit. Two years ago amid considering Miller’s future worth amid constant trade rumours, DeBrusk was in the what-would-we-get? mix. He was struggling in Boston and had requested a trade before finding his game.

A Miller acquisition would have given the Bruins added strength down the middle in Patrice Bergeron, Charlie Coyle and Tomas Nosek. And with Bergeron contemplating retirement at that time, Miller could have slid into that centre role. DeBrusk had 27 goals in 2023-24, 19 this season and five in the playoffs.

The price: The Canucks are in win-now mode. Short commitment at $4.5 to $5 million AAV.

Brenden Dillon

The goods: A consistent and dependable 20-point defender who has hit that plateau in each of the last there seasons. Might be a placeholder fit here on limited term because he has the size at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. But that isn’t expected to occur.

The price: No hometown discount on expiring $3.9 million cap hit. The Devils are prepared to buck up after trading John Marino.

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Canada’s Dabrowski and New Zealand’s Routliffe pick up second win at WTA Finals

Published

1 day ago

November 5, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski and New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe remain undefeated in women’s doubles at the WTA Finals.

The 2023 U.S. Open champions, seeded second at the event, secured a 1-6, 7-6 (1), (11-9) super-tiebreak win over fourth-seeded Italians Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini in round-robin play on Tuesday.

The season-ending tournament features the WTA Tour’s top eight women’s doubles teams.

Dabrowski and Routliffe lost the first set in 22 minutes but levelled the match by breaking Errani’s serve three times in the second, including at 6-5. They clinched victory with Routliffe saving a match point on her serve and Dabrowski ending Errani’s final serve-and-volley attempt.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will next face fifth-seeded Americans Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk on Thursday, where a win would secure a spot in the semifinals.

The final is scheduled for Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Nov. 5, 2024.

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Allen nets shutout as Devils burn Oilers 3-0

Published

1 day ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

EDMONTON – Jake Allen made 31 saves for his second shutout of the season and 26th of his career as the New Jersey Devils closed out their Western Canadian road trip with a 3-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday.

Jesper Bratt had a goal and an assist and Stefan Noesen and Timo Meier also scored for the Devils (8-5-2) who have won three of their last four on the heels on a four-game losing skid.

The Oilers (6-6-1) had their modest two-game winning streak snapped.

Calvin Pickard made 13 stops between the pipes for Edmonton.

TAKEAWAYS

Devils: In addition to his goal, Bratt picked up his 12th assist of the young season to give him nine points in his last eight games and now 15 points overall. Nico Hischier remains in the team lead, picking up an assist of his own to give him 16 points for the campaign. He has a point in all but four games this season.

Oilers: Forward Leon Draisaitl was held pointless after recording six points in his previous two games and nine points in his previous four. Draisaitl usually has strong showings against the Devils, coming into the contest with an eight-game point streak against New Jersey and 11 goals in 17 games.

KEY MOMENT

New Jersey took a 2-0 lead on the power play with 3:26 remaining in the second period as Hischier made a nice feed into the slot to Bratt, who wired his third of the season past Pickard.

KEY RETURN?

Oilers star forward and captain Connor McDavid took part in the optional morning skate for the Oilers, leading to hopes that he may be back sooner rather than later. McDavid has been expected to be out for two to three weeks with an ankle injury suffered during the first shift of last Monday’s loss in Columbus.

OILERS DEAL FOR D-MAN

The Oilers have acquired defenceman Ronnie Attard from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenceman Ben Gleason.

The 6-foot-3 Attard has spent the past three season in the Flyers organization seeing action in 29 career games. The 25-year-old right-shot defender and Western Michigan University grad was originally selected by Philadelphia in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Attard will report to the Oilers’ AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.

UP NEXT

Devils: Host the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

Oilers: Host the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.

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Mahomes throws 3 TD passes, unbeaten Chiefs beat Buccaneers 30-24 in OT

Published

1 day ago

November 4, 2024

Anne Joseph

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns, and Kareem Hunt pounded into the end zone from two yards out in overtime to give the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs a 30-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.

DeAndre Hopkins had two touchdown receptions for the Chiefs (8-0), who drove through the rain for two fourth-quarter scores to take a 24-17 lead with 4:17 left. But then Kansas City watched as Baker Mayfield led the Bucs the other way in the final minute, hitting Ryan Miller in the end zone with 27 seconds to go in regulation time.

Tampa Bay (4-5) elected to kick the extra point and force overtime, rather than go for a two-point conversion and the win. And it cost the Buccaneers when Mayfield called tails and the coin flip was heads. Mahomes and the Chiefs took the ball, he was 5-for-5 passing on their drive in overtime, and Hunt finished his 106-yard rushing day with the deciding TD plunge.

Travis Kelce had 14 catches for 100 yards with girlfriend Taylor Swift watching from a suite, and Hopkins finished with eight catches for 86 yards as the Chiefs ran their winning streak to 14 dating to last season. They became the sixth Super Bowl champion to start 8-0 the following season.

Mayfield finished with 200 yards and two TDs passing for the Bucs, who have lost four of their last five.

It was a memorable first half for two players who had been waiting to play in Arrowhead Stadium.

The Bucs’ Rachaad White grew up about 10 minutes away in a tough part of Kansas City, but his family could never afford a ticket for him to see a game. He wound up on a circuitous path through Division II Nebraska-Kearney and a California junior college to Arizona State, where he eventually became of a third-round pick of Tampa Bay in the 2022 draft.

Two year later, White finally got into Arrowhead — and the end zone. He punctuated his seven-yard scoring run in the second quarter, which gave the Bucs a 7-3 lead, by nearly tossing the football into the second deck.

Then it was Hopkins’ turn in his first home game since arriving in Kansas City from a trade with the Titans.

The three-time All-Pro, who already had caught four passes, reeled in a third-down heave from Mahomes amid triple coverage for a 35-yard gain inside the Tampa Bay five-yard line. Three plays later, Mahomes found him in the back of the end zone, and Hopkins celebrated his first TD with the Chiefs with a dance from “Remember the Titans.”

Tampa Bay tried to seize control with consecutive scoring drives to start the second half. The first ended with a TD pass to Cade Otton, the latest tight end to shred the Chiefs, and Chase McLaughlin’s 47-yard field goal gave the Bucs a 17-10 lead.

The Chiefs answered in the fourth quarter. Mahomes marched them through the rain 70 yards for a tying touchdown pass, which he delivered to Samaje Perine while landing awkwardly and tweaking his left ankle, and then threw a laser to Hopkins on third-and-goal from the Buccaneers’ five-yard line to give Kansas City the lead.

Tampa Bay promptly went three-and-out, but its defence got the ball right back, and this time Mayfield calmly led his team down field. His capped the drive with a touchdown throw to Miller — his first career TD catch — with 27 seconds to go, and Tampa Bay elected to play for overtime.

UP NEXT

Buccaneers: Host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Chiefs: Host the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

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AP NFL:

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