While Teddy Blueger’s time on the West Coast has been short, he’s sure made the most of it this season.
Inking a one-year deal with the Canucks this summer, Blueger has had a great run this year scoring five goals and 22 points in 41 games, on pace for career highs in assists and points.
And the Vancouver Canucks have liked what they’ve seen, so much so that on Friday, CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal reported Blueger appears to be a top priority for the club.
“I do want to say something on the UFA front: I do think the Canucks indicated they want to keep Teddy Blueger,” he said during a hit on Sportsnet 650’s Halford & Brough. “That’s a player they’ve identified they want to re-sign. I will not be surprised if Blueger is the first UFA they try and re-sign.”
Blueger’s found a home on Vancouver’s third line alongside Conor Garland and Dakota Joshua, where the trio has flourished with some impressive point production. All three players have scored over two points per hour at 5v5 this year, and when together in 352 minutes, they’ve controlled 55.72 percent of the shot attempt share, 62.26 percent of the expected goal share, 59.14 percent of the scoring chance share, and a stunning 67.74 percent of the actual goals scored.
A big part of that has been Blueger’s play, as when all together, they score 3.58 GF/60 at 5v5, but when Blueger’s away from them, that number drops to 2.37 GF/60.
Individually, his impacts have been immense. According to hockeyviz.com, he provides even-strength offence at a 12 percent rate above league average, and defence at a two percent rate above league avearge.
His contract for this season sees him earn $1.9-million, which marked a slight pay cut from the $2.2-million he had been earning with the Pittsburgh Penguins previously. But if the Canucks are able to sign him to a short-term deal around the price point he’s earning now, it’s hard to argue with that being a good deal.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
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