7 star free agents Vancouver Canucks could sign next summer

The Vancouver Canucks are at a crossroads with one of Elias Pettersson or J.T. Miller likely getting traded before the March 7 deadline.

The longtime spat between the two players has finally broken containment and is the talk of the league. President Jim Rutherford publicly addressed it, and a trade feels like the only logical resolution.

If the Canucks do deal one of Miller or Pettersson, that’ll mark a significant amount of salary coming off the books. It’ll make them players in free agency next year with a need for star power.

The good news is that there are several big names around the league who don’t have a contract for next season yet. Here are seven pending unrestricted free agents who the Canucks could target next summer.

1. Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs

• Position: Right wing
• Age: 27
• Current salary: $10.903 million
• 2024-25 stats: 5o GP, 15 G, 53 A, 68 PTS

Mitch Marner is the shining star of this year’s free agency class. While the Toronto Maple Leafs will surely attempt to re-sign the Ontario native, he may be too expensive for them to agree on a deal.

Marner leads the Maple Leafs in points this season and is on pace to score 100 points for the first time ever. He’s an incredibly creative offensive player and one of the NHL’s absolute best playmakers.

Critics will be quick to point out the lack of playoff production last year, but he’s near a point-per-game in the postseason for his career. If the Canucks are willing to back up the Brinks truck, it’s hard to go wrong with Marner.

2. John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs

• Position: Centre
• Age: 34
• Current salary: $11 million
• 2024-25 stats: 44 GP, 20 G, 22 A, 42 PTS

For years, John Tavares was one of the NHL’s absolute best forwards. At 34 years old, he’s slightly past his prime, although he’s still having an impressive season. With 20 goals and 42 points, he’s on pace to score 30 goals for the seventh time.

Tavares will certainly be taking a pay cut next season, but the big question is how much he’ll be willing to accept. There are few players who can sustain an elite level of play into their late thirties.

While Tavares is older than most premier free agents, he could be a strong veteran presence to add as a short-term stopgap.

3. Mikko Rantanen, Carolina Hurricanes

• Position: Left wing
• Age: 28
• Current salary: $9.25 million
• 2024-25 stats: 51 GP, 25 G, 40 A, 65 PTS

Mikko Rantanen was the centrepiece of a recent trade between the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes. The power forward has been one of the league’s most productive players for years and is in the midst of another excellent season.

The Hurricanes just acquired Rantanen, and common sense dictates they would attempt to re-sign him. But the Hurricanes have historically been stingy with their finances and may not want to pay the $12 million+ it’ll cost to keep the Finnish winger around.

There’s no doubt Rantanen’s next contract will be well into the eight-figure annual range. Trading one of their superstars, along with a rising salary cap, should get the Canucks into that range where it’s possible.

4. Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg Jets

• Position: Left wing
• Age: 28
• Current salary: $6 million
• 2024-25 stats: 43 GP, 15 G, 30 A, 45 PTS

Nikolaj Ehlers is a player who has long been connected to the Canucks after being drafted just a few picks after the infamous Jake Virtanen. Ehlers has spent his entire career with the Winnipeg Jets, hovering around the 25-goal, 55-point range.

While those raw numbers don’t scream star, Ehlers has always been one of the league’s better per-minute producers. He’s played around 15 minutes per night for the past few years yet still has managed to put up solid numbers.

Ehlers won’t cost as much as Marner, Tavares or Rantanen. His new team will be betting he can grow into a larger role with more minutes and keep up his same production rate.

5. Brock Nelson, New York Islanders

• Position: Centre
• Age: 33
• Current salary: $6 million
• 2024-25 stats: 49 GP, 15 G, 17 A, 32 PTS

Brock Nelson is a veteran goal-scorer who has found his name in trade rumours this season. Whether he leaves the New York Islanders or not, he’ll surely have teams after him next summer when he becomes a free agent.

Nelson has scored at least 34 goals in each of the past three seasons. At 6-foot-4, he also has the size that NHL teams want and covet. He checks a lot of boxes.

However, at 33 years old, Nelson is not getting any younger. His new team will be betting he can continue this level of play well into his mid-thirties.

6. Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers

• Position: Centre
• Age: 28
• Current salary: $4.425 million
• 2024-25 stats: 49 GP, 15 G, 15 A, 30 PTS

Sam Bennett feels like he was designed to play for Rick Tocchet. The fierce, physical two-way centre is the type of player who would thrive under Tocchet’s tutelage. Bennett also has a scoring touch as he’s on pace to score 20 goals for the third time in his career thus far.

Bennett was a big reason why the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup this season. It’s easy to picture him playing second-line centre behind either Pettersson or Miller if the Canucks decide to keep one of their stars.

7. Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers

• Position: Right defence
• Age: 28
• Current salary: $7.5 million
• 2024-25 stats: 43 GP, 3 G, 19 A, 22 PTS

The Canucks need right-handed defencemen, and Aaron Eklbad could satisfy that desire. The former first-overall pick has been a stalwart on the Panthers blue line for more than a decade but could finally be moving on this summer.

Ekblad has solid size at 6-foot-1, can chip in 30+ points without needing a ton of power play time, and has a Stanley Cup ring. He’ll definitely be sought after on the free agency market if he makes it there.