Vancouver Canucks talking to Roslovic but they could opt for a trade instead
The Vancouver Canucks now have cap space again after Thursday’s trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Dakota Joshua and his $3.25 million cap hit are now off the books for GM Patrik Allvin, who has money to play with to try to improve his team.
So what will he do with it?
There’s little left on the free agent market, with Jack Roslovic and Victor Olofsson representing the best remaining forwards available.
Roslovic is the name many people thought of after Joshua was traded, given he has been linked to the Canucks numerous times over the years. Canucks management appears to still be interested in the 28-year-old forward, as CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal indicates below.
Is there a match between the Canucks and Jack Roslovic?
There have been talks with the Canucks and his camp. https://t.co/uSfVyADjMy
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) July 17, 2025
A first-round draft pick by the Winnipeg Jets in 2015, Roslovic has proven to be a consistent point producer in his career. The Columbus, Ohio, native has averaged 35 points per season since establishing himself as a full-time NHL player in 2018-19. He has 260 points in 526 career games with the Jets, Blue Jackets, Rangers, and Hurricanes.
Roslovic is coming off a 22-goal, 39-point campaign with Carolina. He also added four points (1-3-4) in nine playoff games.
Listed as a 6-foot-1, 198-pound centre on NHL.com, Roslovic seems to fit the profile of a middle-six centre the Canucks could really use.
But is he really a centre?
Roslovic has played more wing than centre the past two seasons, but he primarily played in the middle for three seasons with the Blue Jackets. Canucks management seems to view him as a versatile winger capable of playing centre, rather than a full-time centre, per Thomas Drance of The Athletic.
What about a Canucks trade instead?
If the Canucks aren’t convinced that Roslovic can help improve their greatest weakness, which is the centre position, then maybe they’re eyeing a trade.
Centres aren’t easy to come by, but Marco Rossi is reportedly on the trade block in Minnesota. Rossi, 23, is a restricted free agent and due a big raise, with AFP Analytics projecting him to make over $7 million on a long-term contract. So even if the Canucks can acquire Rossi for draft picks and prospects, they would likely need to shed another $4 million in cap space to fit him in.
Same goes for Mason McTavish, if the Anaheim Ducks decide to part with the 22-year-old RFA centre. AFP Analytics projects him to make $6.77 million on a six-year deal.
Perhaps more realistically, the Canucks could look to a pair of players reportedly on the trade block, in Jean-Gabriel Pageau from the New York Islanders and J.T. Compher of the Detroit Red Wings.
Pageau is a two-way, middle-six centre coming off a 42-point season. The 32-year-old played 17 minutes per game last season, including 1:43 on the penalty kill, which led all New York Islanders forwards.
Pageau has $5 million left on his contract, which the Canucks could afford if they traded Teddy Blueger and his $1.8 million salary.
Compher also led all forwards on his team in shorthanded ice time (1:34). The 30-year-old Detroit Red Wings centre is coming off a down year that saw him score just 32 points (11-21-32) in 76 games. He’s just one year removed from a 48-point campaign in Detroit, and tallied 52 points two years ago with the Colorado Avalanche.
Compher comes with more risk, given he has three more years on his contract at a $5.1 million cap hit, but that should make the 6-foot centre easier to acquire.
There remains the possibility that the Canucks don’t make any moves at all, entering the season with more flexibility should another trade become available.
Regardless, it’ll be interesting to see what Allvin does next.