Do The Vancouver Canucks Actually Have Plan or Direction?

The Vancouver Canucks are doing Vancouver Canuck things as they look to try to keep All-Star defenseman Quinn Hughes. That is the only explanation after considering what they did before the NHL Free Agency on July 1, as well as what the team did on that same day. Because if that is not the reason, then what is the plan for the Vancouver Canucks moving forward?

That has to be the only reason for the Canucks to re-sign Brock Boeser, who many thought was leaving via free agency, Conor Garland, and Thatcher Demko. We know President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford and General Manager Patrik Allvin had been on the fence about re-signing Brock Boeser. Remember, at the start and throughout the season, they were still evaluating him and his role with the team going forward.

It always seemed Boeser took a backseat to everyone else on the roster and was bashed by management. Just look at the comments by Allvin and Rutherford throughout the year, including what Allvin said after the trade deadline about what he was offered for Boeser and how those in attendance would not believe him.

All signs pointed to him leaving Vancouver until the last-minute phone call happened, and Boeser stayed in Vancouver, keeping the drama alive.

However, the signing of Boeser should not come as a surprise, as the Canucks have a history of re-signing or extending players who are perceived to be leaving via free agency or trade.

Just look over the past couple of seasons under the Allvin and Rutherford regime. J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson had issues dating back to when Pettersson was drafted. There are some rumblings that both guys could be leaving. The Canucks were having talks with the Carolina Hurricanes about Pettersson in a deal involving Martin Necas.

Those talks fizzled, and then Pettersson signed an eight-year extension with the Canucks a year after Miller signed an eight-year extension to stay with the Canucks despite the issues between the two. Knowing these two had problems, what sense did it make to re-sign both players to eight-year deals? It didn’t. But this is typical Canucks, considering the past of how they handled Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo.

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Allvin and Rutherford were heading down that path again. With Miller in New York, the Canucks were still trying to move Pettersson before his no-movement clause kicked in on July 1st. However, the market was thin for centers, and Vancouver was losing a Pettersson trade, just as they had with the Miller trade. There was nothing better out there, so as it stands, Pettersson remains with the Canucks.

While Boeser is the big fish in the trio signed by the Canucks, Conor Garland and Thatcher Demko also received new extensions. Garland’s name was out in trade discussions for the last couple of seasons, and most recently, Demko’s name was out there just in case the team and player could not strike a new deal.

It was strange to see the Vancouver Canucks keep all three guys. However, the strangeness of Demko’s deal is that he has a full no-movement clause for all three seasons despite his health issues.

Although Demko is healthy and skating, which is all to the good, the fact remains that he has not been able to complete a full season in a couple of years. Kevin Lankinen, who was signed off waivers last year, has a new five-year extension at $4.5 million per season.

That means Vancouver is spending $13 million on goaltending starting next season, as Demko’s next extension pays him $8.5 million a season. However, that is a significant amount of money to spend on goalies. The Canucks had Arturs Silovs waiting in the wings until they traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Vancouver believes in the goalies in their system. They’d better hope Demko stays healthy.

But this is typical of the Vancouver Canucks. Let’s be honest here. It is like Manny Ramirez in Boston with the Red Sox. The players and coaches said it was Manny being Manny; well, with Boeser, Garland, and Demko staying, it’s just Vancouver being Vancouver.

In addition to these moves, the Canucks traded for Evander Kane as they aim to remain competitive and return to the playoffs under new head coach Adam Foote. Not to mention, these moves were done to keep defenseman Quinn Hughes, who has been mentioned in trade talks.

Again, the Quinn Hughes drama was caused by Allvin and Rutherford. It was Rutherford who stated that Quinn Hughes wanted to play with his brothers. Again, until he informs management that he wants to leave, he remains a member of the Vancouver Canucks. But this team loves drama; it’s what they do.

The Canucks are going to try to run it back and hopefully end the mess of rotating coaches, which started after they fired Bruce Boudreau. Vancouver wants to head back in the right direction.

What the right direction is for the Vancouver Canucks, only Rutherford, Allvin, Foote, and hopefully Quinn Hughes know. From the outside looking in, many are asking what the Vancouver Canucks are doing as they head into next season.