Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser’s future might be shaped by whatever Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner chooses to do on July 1, assuming he gets to market as an unrestricted free agent.
That’s the view of NHL insider Rick Dhaliwal, who reported Tuesday on the "Donnie & Dhali" podcast that both right-shot wingers could define each other’s value once the free agency window opens.
“Boeser’s future could be linked to Mitch Marner,” Dhaliwal said. “Both right-shot, right-wingers. Marner’s the prize catch on the free agent market, but the teams that don't get Marner... are they going to shift over to Brock Boeser?
The right-wing market after Marner and Boeser is very small, so keep an eye on where Marner goes, and those teams that have that money, do they shift over Boeser?”
"I am told no shortage of teams will be after Brock on July 1st.."@DhaliwalSports updated the latest he is hearing with #Canucks pending UFA Brock Boeser & if a reunion with a former Forward could be possible.https://t.co/h4e2SKM7eJ pic.twitter.com/8gbYqPIZkp
— Donnie & Dhali (@DonnieandDhali) June 17, 2025
Neither Marner's nor Boeser’s future with Toronto and Vancouver, respectively, has been resolved less than two weeks from the start of free agency.
That said, the Canucks are still trying to gauge Boeser’s long-term outlook to see if they can reach an agreement with the 28-year-old winger, who is coming off a 50-point season.
According to The Athletic's Thomas Drance, Vancouver offered Boeser a substantial extension offer in March.
"It’s fair to say that the balance of probabilities strongly suggests that the club will move forward without (Boeser)," Drance wrote. "It’s come to this despite the Canucks making a sizeable effort to retain Boeser ahead of the NHL trade deadline. It was an offer — reportedly a five-year deal worth $40 million."
As things stand, Boeser will become an unrestricted free agent following the completion of his three-year, $19.95 million contract.
According to Dhaliwal, several teams are expected to make a run at Boeser if the Canucks doesn't sign the winger to an extension before July 1.
"Travis Green and Mike Yeo in Ottawa, they love Boeser," Dhaliwal said. "Tocchet in Philly. The Kings have liked Boeser for a while. The Bruins were poking around at the trade deadline. Minnesota's looking for goal scorers,” Dhaliwal said. "There’s going to be interest."
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