Vancouver Canucks will try to sign Mikael Granlund in free agency: report
Vancouver Canucks management has made it clear that they’re in desperate need of a second-line centre.
But on the eve of the start of free agency, they’ve yet to make a move.
The Canucks didn’t make a trade of significance at the draft and it’s been mostly quiet with regard to reports and rumours on the free agent front.
It’s slim pickings among this year’s crop of free agents, particularly when it comes to centremen.
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The Canucks had reported interest in Matt Duchene, who re-signed with the Dallas Stars 10 days ago.
Sam Bennett, Brock Nelson, John Tavares, Claude Giroux, Ryan Donato, and Yanni Gourde have also signed extensions in recent weeks rather than test free agency, which opens at 9 a.m. PT on July 1.
So, who does that leave? The answer is not much.
Pius Suter is set to be the second-highest scoring centre available in unrestricted free agency.
That leaves just one potential upgrade for Canucks GM Patrik Allvin to target, and apparently, he has interest.
Mikael Granlund, who could still re-sign with Dallas, is a player the Canucks have apparent interest in.
Yes, they may dip their toes back into the Sea of Granlund.
“If he hits the open market tomorrow, Vancouver is expected to take a strong run at him,” reports David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.
As Dallas tries to sign Mikael Granlund (talks remain ongoing today), if he hits the open market tomorrow, Vancouver is expected to take a strong run at him.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 30, 2025
The brother of former Canucks forward Markus Granlund, Mikael split last season between the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars.
Granlund scored 66 points in 83 regular-season games before adding another 10 points in 18 playoff games with the Stars. The 33-year-old veteran has 902 games of NHL experience, scoring 610 points.
Granlund ranked fourth among Stars skaters in average ice time during the playoffs (17:27), which included minutes on the power play (1:53) and penalty kill (1:17). The Finnish forward played the wing primarily in Dallas, but was used as a centre in San Jose.
AFP Analytics projects Granlund to make $4,975,550 per season on a two-year deal, but that seems low given what else is available on the open market.
Indeed, St. Louis, San Jose, and Carolina are all preparing offers for Granlund, according to Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects. The Canucks are “not expected to compete with more competitive clubs who will also make better offers,” Robinson adds.
So what happens if the Canucks don’t get Granlund? They could always circle back to Suter or look at another UFA centre like Jack Roslovic.
If neither one of those options comes to fruition, perhaps the Canucks will make another push on the trade front. Marco Rossi is available out of Minnesota, but he won’t come cheap.
Or will Allvin stand pat? They do have Filip Chytil already under contract and could give the 25-year-old centre a shot on the second line.