BY ALIN MATEESCU – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
With the NHL and NHLPA reaching an agreement in principle on a new CBA, it is now time to examine each team’s roster as they head into a likely 48 game season. Here is my look at the Vancouver Canucks and the possible questions facing their roster, their cap space, their unrestricted free agents and their restricted free agents. Salary cap and cap space provided by capgeek.com.
Salary Cap: $67,768,333 (3)
Cap Space: $2,431,667
Players Signed: 23
UFA: D – Ryan Parent, RW – Byron Bitz, RW – Victor Oreskovich, RW – Mike Duco
RFA: none
When you think about the Vancouver Canucks, the first thing that pops into everyone’s mind is: so, where will Roberto Luongo end up? Consensus is that Canucks GM Mike Gillis will trade him. But where? Since he has a no-trade clause in his contract, Luongo can dictate where he ends up. His preference is the Panthers because his wife is from the area and he still retains a home there, but has stated he wouldn’t be opposed to playing in Toronto.
The Leafs are probably his most desperate suitor as their playoff chances could very well hinge on whether they land him or not. Rumour is that they don’t want to meet Gillis’ supposed asking price of Jake Gardiner and a first round draft pick, however. The Leafs would be more comfortable with the rumored package consisting of Tyler Bozak and a B-level prospect. Bozak would fit well centering Vancouver’s second line until Ryan Kesler is ready to return from injury, but is that enough to convince the Canucks to make a deal?
While reports suggest that the Oilers may have interest in Luongo, it’s more likely the Canucks may use them to create a market for their expensive backup so that teams like the Panthers and Leafs offer up better packages, rather than treat Edmonton as serious trade partners.
Alin Mateescu is a full-time Front-end Web Developer with a passion for Online Marketing, Digital Media, and Web Development. Web Strategist. Sports junkie. Creator of iTalkHockey blog network. Managing Editor at RumorMeThis.com and RumorMeThat.com. Find out more about me at about.me/alinmat
Related read: