WHO SHOULD THE CANUCKS TARGET IN FREE AGENCY?
Are the Vancouver Canucks content with Bo Horvat and Brandon Sutter as their projected first two centres? And who will they add to mentor the kids?
“Those are the types of conversations we’re having,” Canucks general manager Jim Benning said Sunday. “We’re not going to replace Daniel and Henrik (Sedin). But there’s going to be opportunity for some of our young and skilled players.”
However, they’re also going to need support and the search for a centre who fills the need is on. Here are unrestricted free agents being considered.
Riley Nash (29, Boston, $900,000)
The Vitals: 6-foot-1, 190 lb.; GP: 76, G: 15, A: 26, Pts: 41
The skinny: Went from measured fourth-line minutes, to a reliable third-line pivot and capable replacement on the top line when Patrice Bergeron was twice sidelined by injury.
Jay Beagle (32, Washington, $1.75M)
The Vitals: 6-foot-3, 218 lb.; GP: 79, G: 7, A: 15, Pts: 22
The skinny: In a bottom-six support role, his defence and winning faceoffs — 58.5 in regular season and 60.1 in playoffs — plus hitting, blocking shots are a big plus.
Tyler Bozak (32, Toronto, $4M)
The Vitals: 6-foot-1, 199 lb.; GP: 81, G: 11 A: 32, Pts: 43
The skinny: Third-liner in Toronto and second-unit PP guy. Could be good insurance against injury to Horvat, Sutter, but at what cost? Probably swinging for fences financially.
Derek Ryan (31, Carolina, $1.425M)
The Vitals: 5-foot-11, 170 lb., GP: 80, G: 15, A: 23, Pts: 38
The skinny: Career-high goals, points. Can play PP, had 56.5 per cent faceoff efficiency and averaged 15:36 of ice time. Bottom-six guy who could be moved at trade deadline.
OVERTIME: The Canucks traded RFA centre Michael Chaput, 26, to the Chicago Blackhawks Sunday for centre Tanner Kero, 25. The 6-foot, 185 pound underrated centre, who has a year left on his contract at $750,000, had 20 points (8-12) in 36 American Hockey League games last season and three points (1-2) in eight games with the Blackhawks. Chaput had 42 AHL points (17-25) in 55 games with Utica, but no points in nine NHL games. In 77 career games with the Canucks, he had nine points (4-5).