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The Canucks are expected to be buyers heading into the season, but things are going to be significantly different to what they were in 2023-2024.
Canucks in a good position salary cap-wise?
As of right now, the Canucks sit just a few thousand dollars under the NHL's salary cap without the use of the Long-Term-Injury-Reserve, which they could use with Tucker Poolman. On Canucks Central today, Dan Riccio and Sat Shah discussed the position the Canucks could be in as they near the trade deadline and estimated that the Canucks could have up to almost $8M freed up under the cap if they played their cards right.
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An interesting improvement compared to last year?
Even though Patrik Allvin found creative ways to acquire talented players through the 2023-2024 campaign, the team's current position with the cap puts them in a much better position. Every time the Canucks wanted to acquire a player last year, another had to be moved out. While it didn't restrain them from acquiring Nikita Zadorov or Elias Lindholm, who both cost roster players like Anthony Beauvilier and Andrei Kuzmenko, it led to them missing out on Chris Tanev and Tyler Toffoli, among others.
Eight million dollars sure is a substantial margin; if the Canucks do get to the deadline with this much money to play with, I'd be ready to bet that Allvin will be trading the team's 2025 1st Round Draft Selection. Taking a quick look at players who could be exciting acquisitions for the Canucks, with an $8M cap hit whose contracts are near expiry, gives names such as recent Stanley Cup winner Aaron Ekblad, Brock Nelson, Rasmus Andersson or perhaps Shea Theodore.
Allvin and his staff are setting themselves up for a fascinating season trade-wise, and with that much money to work with, they have a vast range of outcomes.
