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7 players Vancouver Canucks could steal from other teams with offer sheets

Trevor Beggs
Trevor Beggs
|
May 26 2025, 7:33 pm
7 players Vancouver Canucks could steal from other teams with offer sheets
James Carey Lauder/Imagn Images

The Vancouver Canucks should start modelling themselves after the St. Louis Blues.

Who would have thought?

This season, the Blues caught fire down the stretch, surpassing the Canucks to snag the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

A primary reason why they did so? The fact that they stole Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway from the Edmonton Oilers via offer sheets.

Can the Canucks do something similar this offseason?

The dynamic will be a little bit different this summer, with the NHL salary cap set to rise by $6.5 million, up to $95.5 million overall.

Still, there are some teams who appear to either be in a cap bind, or may be in a situation where they aren’t in love with the RFAs that they have.

The Canucks would need to reacquire their own 2026 third-round pick to make it happen, given it’s a common offer sheet compensation requirement. Calgary currently owns that pick as a result of the Nikita Zadorov trade.

Here is the offer sheet compensation for NHL clubs heading into the 2025 offseason:

  • $1,544,424 or less = zero compensation
  • Over $1,544,424 – $2,340,037 = third-round pick
  • Over $2,340,037 – $4,680,076 = second-round pick
  • Over $4,680,076 – $7,020,113 = first and third-round pick
  • Over $7,020,113 – $9,360,153 = first, second-, and third-round pick
  • Over $9,360,153 – $11,700,192 = two firsts, one second- and one third-round pick
  • Over $11,700,192 = four first-round picks

Here are seven players the Canucks could target via offer sheet this summer.

1. Marco Rossi (Minnesota Wild)

  • Position: Centre
  • 2024-25 stats: 82 GP, 24 G, 36A, 60 PTS

The Canucks are desperate for an upgrade at centre ice, while the Minnesota Wild may be at a contract impasse with 23-year-old Marco Rossi. Those two things coupled together could make Rossi a realistic target for the Canucks.

Rossi is undersized at 5-foot-9, but he has a strong battle level for his size and an above-average hockey IQ. The Wild also have a strong prospect pipeline and have youngsters such as Danila Yurov, Riley Heidt and Liam Ohgren who could provide cheaper replacements for Rossi at a lesser cap hit in the near future. Adding to that is the fact that the Wild may be interested in Minnesota native Brock Nelson in free agency.

2. Will Cuylle (New York Rangers)

  • Position: Left wing
  • 2024-25 stats: 82 GP, 20 G, 25 A, 45 PTS

In a season where many players on the New York Rangers disappointed, burly winger Willy Cuylle was a bright spot.

The 23-year-old set career highs with 20 goals and 45 points. Those 45 points matched the same production as his teammate, Alexis Lafreniere, who was drafted first overall in the same 2020 draft as Cuylle (who was drafted 60th overall).

Cuylle is due for a raise, and it’s not a slam dunk that the Rangers will give it to him.

The Rangers have just $8.4 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia. They may be in tough to afford both Cuylle and defenceman K’Andre Miller.

While either player could shake loose via an offer sheet, Cuylle fills a bigger need for the Canucks as a young winger with size who can score.

3. Gabriel Vilardi (Winnipeg Jets)

  • Position: Left wing
  • 2024-25 stats: 71 GP, 27 G, 34 A, 61 PTS

The Winnipeg Jets have a tough choice to make this offseason.

Based on their current cap space, they’ll likely have to choose whether to re-sign unrestricted free agent Nikolaj Ehlers or restricted free agent Gabe Vilardi.

While the betting money is that they’ll re-sign Vilardi and let Ehlers walk, you could argue that they’d put themselves in a better position long-term by re-signing Ehlers while collecting draft pick compensation for Vilardi if he were signed to an offer sheet.

Vilardi has been a slam-dunk fit for the Jets. He’s slotted onto their top line seamlessly with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, while also being a weapon for them at net front on the power play.

Injuries have been a concern for Vilardi throughout his career. He’s missed at least 15 games (including playoffs) in each of the last three seasons. He was also relatively quiet for the Jets in this year’s postseason (one goal, four points in nine games).

4. Matthew Knies (Toronto Maple Leafs)

  • Position: Left wing
  • 2024-25 stats: 78 GP, 29 G, 29 A, 58 PTS

The Toronto Maple Leafs have the most fascinating offseason in the NHL.

After making the playoffs for nine straight years with little success, they may be looking to flip their core inside out, with both Mitch Marner and John Tavares set to hit unrestricted free agency. Adding to that equation is the fact that Knies is due for a huge raise.

Knies, much like Vilardi, has been an impact, physical top-six winger. His 22 even-strength goals this season ranked 20th overall in the NHL. If the Leafs decide to retain Marner, Knies immediately becomes a top offer-sheet candidate.

5. Kaapo Kakko (Seattle Kraken)

  • Position: Right wing
  • 2024-25 stats: 79 GP, 14 G, 30 A, 44 PTS

It would make sense for the Canucks to show interest in Kaapo Kakko.

The former second-overall pick from the 2021 draft enjoyed success while playing alongside current Canucks centre Filip Chytil. Over the last three seasons, the duo drove play and outscored the opposition 45-27 when they were on the ice together at even strength.

Seattle currently has the cap space to re-sign Kakko or to match an offer sheet. However, if last season was any indication, they like to go big-game hunting in free agency. The Kraken also should be desperate to climb to relevancy in a sports market that includes the Seahawks (NFL), Huskies (NCAA), Mariners (NFL), Sounders (MLS), and potentially an NBA franchise in the near future.

6. Mavrik Bourque (Dallas Stars)

  • Position: Centre
  • 2024-25 stats: 73 GP, 11 G, 14 A, 25 PTS

This is clearly a Cup-or-bust season for the Dallas Stars, who enter the offseason with the least amount of cap space in the league.

They have just $4.5 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia, and only 16 players under contract.

Bourque fared reasonably well in his first full NHL season, but it’s telling that he’s only suited up in two playoff games for the Stars. The 23-year-old was also a star (no pun intended) for the Texas Stars in the AHL last season, with 88 points in 77 regular-season and playoff games combined.

7. Fabian Zetterlund (Ottawa Senators)

  • Position: Left wing
  • 2024-25 stats: 84 GP, 19 G, 22 A, 41 PTS

When it comes to the eye test, Fabian Zetterlund is often one of those players who stand out, and for good reason.

The 25-year-old is listed at 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds. Despite being built like a fire hydrant, he still has decent wheels, ranking among the top 20 per cent of fastest NHLers.

Zetterlund was acquired by the Ottawa Senators at the trade deadline, but in the playoffs, he went pointless and was one of their least-utilized forwards.

The Swedish winger played in the SHL in the year when Elias Pettersson was named playoff MVP. He’s an intriguing option to play alongside Pettersson next season, if the price is right.

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