Canucks, Boeser put contract talks off until end of season
It looks like Brock Boeser won’t have a new NHL contract anytime soon.
The sophomore sniper is due for a new deal next summer, and while Canucks’ general manager Jim Benning and Boeser’s agent Ben Hankinson had some talks during the summer, they’re not in a hurry to resume discussions.
Thursday at the Canucks’ training camp media day, Benning said the team will “circle back” to Boeser and Hankinson about a new contract at the end of the 2018-19 season.
“I haven’t been worried about (his contract),” Boeser said later.
Boeser is in the final year of a three-year entry-level deal that has been worth a $925,000 cap hit, which he signed toward the end of the 2016-17 season.
Benning was also asked about Alex Edler’s future — his contract is up at the end of the season but he also has a no-trade clause — and the GM acknowledged the veteran blue-liner’s contract situation could be a discussion point they’ll “circle back to at some point.”
“We’ve talked about it internally, I’ve talked to his agent,” Benning said. “We’ve decided to wait and get into the season.”
When asked about his contract, Edler deflected.
“Right now I’m just getting ready for another season,” he said. “I like it here, I’ve always been treated good here. I’m just going to do what I can control. I’m going to get ready for training camp. Have a good camp, have a good pre-season, just play as good as I can.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future but when that comes up I’ll deal with it then.”