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

Location. Location. Location.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.