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13 free agents Vancouver Canucks could target that won't break the bank

Trevor Beggs
Trevor Beggs
|
May 7 2025, 6:56 pm
13 free agents Vancouver Canucks could target that won't break the bank
Rob Gray/Imagn Images

Patrik Allvin and the Vancouver Canucks haven’t enjoyed a lot of wins recently.

Perhaps that will change in free agency.

Allvin has managed to sign good players for cheap in free agency before.

In 2023, the Canucks signed Pius Suter to a two-year deal worth $1.6 million per season. One year later, they inked Kiefer Sherwood to a two-year deal worth $1.5 million per year and Kevin Lankinen to a one-year deal worth $875,000.

While Allvin’s work in free agency hasn’t been perfect (see: Ilya Mikheyev, Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais), he’s hit more often than not during his first three free agent frenzies with the Canucks.

So, who might Allvin find this year? Here are some names to consider.

1. Jack Roslovic (Carolina Hurricanes)

  • Position: Centre
  • 2024-25 stats: 81 GP, 22 G, 17 A, 39 PTS

The Canucks have had interest in Jack Roslovic dating back to his time with the Winnipeg Jets. Could they revisit their interest in the player now that he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent?

Roslovic has proven he’s a capable middle-six forward who can play both the wing and centre. He’s also been a good complement for star forwards, as his most common linemates this season were Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. He does have some warts defensively, but this Canucks team needs more offence.

2. Victor Olofsson (Vegas Golden Knights)

  • Position: Left wing
  • 2024-25 stats: 56 GP, 15 G, 14 A, 29 PTS

Nothing like escaping the Buffalo Sabres to revive a player’s career.

After scoring a career-high 28 goals in 2022-23, Victor Olofsson sank to seven goals with the Sabres in 2023-24. After signing a one-year deal with Vegas last offseason, the 29-year-old got right back to around the half-point-per-game mark.

3. Alex Kerfoot (Utah Mammoth)

  • Position: Centre
  • 2024-25 stats: 81 GP, 11 G, 17 A, 28 PTS

Could the Canucks bring the North Vancouver native home? Alex Kerfoot has been remarkably consistent throughout his eight-year NHL career, hitting the double-digits for goals scored in six seasons. His versatility between wing and centre would also benefit a Canucks team that has major questions down the middle.

4. Adam Gaudette (Ottawa Senators)

  • Position: Centre
  • 2024-25 stats: 81 GP, 19 G, 7 A, 26 PTS

Although Adam Gaudette was exiled from the Canucks during their COVID outbreak in the 2021 North Division season, that was from a different management regime.

Since leaving the Canucks, Gaudette has played in five different organizations, but he re-cemented his status as a full-time NHLer with the Ottawa Senators this season. He did tail off offensively after a hot start, but scoring nearly 20 goals in a fourth-line role is nothing to scoff at.

Plus, he added penalty killing to his toolkit. Remember when former Canucks coach Trent Cull criticized Jim Benning for not developing Gaudette properly?

5. Anthony Mantha (Calgary Flames)

  • Position: Right wing
  • 2024-25 stats: 13 GP, 4 G, 3 A, 7 PTS

After signing a one-year prove-it deal with the Calgary Flames last offseason, Mantha did “prove it” through 13 games, showcasing physicality and scoring touch. Then, a torn ACL ended his season.

There will be concerns about a soon-to-be 31-year-old coming off of such an injury, but that also means he could be found for a bargain in free agency.

6. Eric Robinson (Carolina Hurricanes)

  • Position: Left wing
  • 2024-25 stats: 82 GP, 14 G, 18 A, 32 PTS

There’s a bit of Kiefer Sherwood in Eric Robinson’s game. The New Jersey native is big, fast, and physical. He also just posted a career-high 14 goals and 32 points.

7. Taylor Raddysh (Washington Capitals)

  • Position: Right wing
  • 2024-25 stats: 80 GP, 7 G, 20 A, 27 PTS

Taylor Raddysh is currently playing his first set of playoff games for the Washington Capitals. The 27-year-old has good wheels, but he’s endured some brutal shooting luck over the past two seasons, scoring 12 goals in 153 games. He did hit the 20-goal mark back with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022-23.

8. Mikey Eyssimont (Seattle Kraken)

  • Position: Left wing
  • 2024-25 stats: 77 GP, 9 G, 7 A, 16 PTS

In case you don’t recall a dreadful 5-0 Canucks loss to the Seattle Kraken, forward Mikey Eyssimont was flying around the ice for Seattle. He ended up scoring the game-winning goal for the Kraken in a must-win game for the Canucks.

Eyssimont’s counting stats don’t jump off the page, but the Canucks could do worse for a bargain bin, fourth-line upside bet.

9. Mason Appleton (Winnipeg Jets)

  • Position: Right wing
  • 2024-25 stats: 63 GP, 10 G, 11 A, 21 PTS

The Green Bay, Wisconsin, native is a year removed from posting career highs with 14 goals and 36 points. His role has diminished slightly on a good Winnipeg Jets team, but he has managed to hit double-digits in goals while providing sturdy two-way play as well.

10. Justin Kirkland (Calgary Flames)

  • Position: Left wing
  • 2024-25 stats: 21 GP, 2 G, 6 A, 8 PTS

At the age of 28, Justin Kirkland finally got his NHL shot this season with the Flames. He popped off early with eight even-strength points in his first 21 games, which led all Flames at the time. Then, a torn ACL on Nov. 29 ended his season.

The Winnipeg native is an easy guy to root for, but he’s also an interesting buy-low candidate for the Canucks.

11. Cole Koepke (Boston Bruins)

  • Position: Left wing
  • 2024-25 stats: 65 GP, 9 G, 7 A, 16 PTS

Could Koepke be Dakota Joshua 2.0?

The late-blooming 26-year-old played just 26 career NHL games prior to this season. However, he just carved out an everyday role with the Bruins.

Koepke has decent wheels, is physical, and has sparkling defensive metrics (albeit against soft competition). He could be an interesting buy-low candidate in free agency.

12. Henri Jokiharju (Boston Bruins)

  • Position: Right defence
  • 2024-25 stats: 60 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 10 PTS

Henri Jokiharju will be one of the youngest unrestricted free agents in this year’s class. The 25-year-old Finnish defenceman has played on some terrible teams throughout his NHL career, but most of his time was with the Buffalo Sabres.

Jokiharju is a good skater, and he had decent underlying metrics while playing for both Buffalo and the tanking Boston Bruins. If the price is right, he could be an interesting add.

13. Parker Wotherspoon (Boston Bruins)

  • Position: Left defence
  • 2024-25 stats: 55 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 7 PTS

If the Canucks decide not to bring Derek Forbort back, they should take a look at Parker Wotherspoon.

The 27-year-old Surrey native plays a similar, defence-first, physical game. He also wouldn’t block the depth chart on the left side of the Canucks defence, giving way for defenceman Elias Pettersson to start on the left side. However, he’s the kind of cheap, hard-working player who could provide competition during training camp and fill in as needed.

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