Canucks cut loose Pouliot, for now

Team still hopes to re-sign now free agent

VANCOUVER — Derrick Pouliot is somewhat in limbo.

The Vancouver Canucks’ restricted free-agent defenceman wasn’t qualified by the Monday deadline of 2 p.m. Pacific. It means that the 24-year-old Pouliot, who was tied for second in club blue-liner points last season with 22 (3-19), but was seventh in average ice time (17:51) and also an occasional healthy scratch, is now an unrestricted free agent.

However, the Canucks don’t want to part with Pouliot and are still trying to hammer out a short, show-us deal.

By not qualifying Pouliot, who earned $800,000 US last season on a one-way deal, he loses his arbitration rights. That might not seem like much, but when an independent arbiter is shown evidence to reach a settlement that the club could walk away from — statistics, games played and especially comparable performances and salaries — the Canucks were wary of just where that might go.

“It’s probably the comparables,” Canucks general manager Jim Benning said Monday. “We’re still working on a contract and that’s the only thing I’m going to say. We’re trying to figure it out.”

Cole Cassels was always tabbed as a centre who needed some seasoning to get his shot in The Show.

However, the third-round 2013 draft pick never played an NHL regular-season game and the RFA wasn’t qualified by the Canucks. In three AHL seasons with the Utica Comets, he struggled to get his offensive game in order and his 26 points (7-19) in 69 games last season was the high-output mark for the 23-year-old.

He fell further behind the depth chart that now includes Elias Pettersson, Adam Gaudette and a free-agent signing July 1.

“Other players just passed him,” said Benning. “He took some steps, but we just feel that he needs a fresh start.”

The Canucks also didn’t qualify RFAs Mackenze Stewart, Griffen Molino and Anton Cederholm, and parted ways with unrestricted free agents Joe LaBate and Patrick Wiercioch.