7 Vancouver Canucks players that are pending unrestricted free agents

The 2026-27 season will be an interesting one for the Vancouver Canucks for a multitude of reasons.

While the Canucks are not expected to be in the playoff hunt, they have plenty of players with something to prove after a horrific showing in 2025-26. They also have a number of players who could be traded during the 2026-27 campaign.

The Canucks have seven pending UFAs on their roster that management will need to make decisions on in the coming months. While a few could re-up on extensions, there are also some who could be traded in exchange for draft picks and/or prospects.

With that said, here’s a look at the 7 current pending UFAs on the Canucks roster:

Filip Chytil

• Age: 26
• Cap hit: $4.4 million
• 2025-26 stats: 12 GP, 3 G, 0 A, 3 PTS

The 2026-27 season will be a massive one for Filip Chytil, as he hopes to move past his concussion issues and land another contract, whether it be with the Canucks or elsewhere.

Chytil’s career has been disappointing, as he’s shown flashes of his skill but has struggled to stay healthy. The Canucks will certainly be hoping that changes this coming season, as they need all the scoring help they can get.

Brendan Gallagher

• Age: 34
• Cap hit: $3.25 million
• 2025-26 stats: 77 GP, 7 G, 16 A, 23 PTS

After plenty of speculation, the Canucks acquired Brendan Gallagher from the Montreal Canadiens in late June. Now, it’s up to the 34-year-old to prove he’s still got some game left.

Despite struggling immensely in 2025-26, Gallagher did score 21 goals the season prior. Perhaps getting more opportunity while also playing for his hometown team will be enough to get his game back on track.

Drew O’Connor

• Age: 28
• Cap hit: $2.5 million
• 2025-26 stats: 82 GP, 17 G, 12 A, 29 PTS

The 2025-26 season was forgettable for the vast majority of Canucks players, though the same can’t be said for Drew O’Connor. The 28-year-old recorded a career-high 17 goals, which was tied for third among his teammates.

If O’Connor can produce similar results through the first few months of the 2026-27 season, the Canucks should receive interest from a number of teams, and may be able to net a solid return for the hard-working 28-year-old.

Paul Cotter

• Age: 26
• Cap hit: $2.15 million
• 2025-26 stats: 79 GP, 9 G, 6 A, 15 PTS

One of the Canucks’ free-agent signings this summer was Paul Cotter, who agreed to a one-year, $2.15-million deal. The 26-year-old has split his 296-game career between the New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights.

Cotter certainly isn’t a game-changer, but is a solid bottom-six forward who can chip in a little offensively. He could also be a player who generates interest at the trade deadline, albeit the return wouldn’t be anything major.

Luke Schenn

• Age: 36
• Cap hit: $2.25 million
• 2025-26 stats: 50 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 7 PTS

Luke Schenn will soon be putting on a Canucks sweater for the first time since he was traded during the 2022-23 season, after agreeing to a one-year deal earlier this summer.

The 36-year-old doesn’t bring a ton to the table these days in terms of on-ice ability, but provides lots of leadership, having logged 1,122 career games. That experience could interest some teams at the trade deadline should he prove he’s capable of playing a third-pairing role.

Arshdeep Bains

• Age: 25
• Cap hit: $850,000
• 2025-26 stats: 28 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 5 PTS

Arshdeep Bains was able to play a career-high 28 games with the Canucks this past season, but failed to make much of an impact. At 25 years old, his time to turn into an NHL regular is quickly running out.

Bains will need to play his way onto this roster, though that certainly isn’t impossible given their lack of depth up front. Should he do that, an extension may come to fruition, though it’s unlikely any other NHL teams show interest in him ahead of the trade deadline.

Nikita Tolopilo

• Age: 26
• Cap hit: $850,000
• 2025-26 stats: 21 GP, 3.61 GAA, .881 SV%

Should Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen both be healthy to start the season, Nikita Tolopilo will be back in the AHL with Abbotsford. The 26-year-old was able to make 21 NHL appearances this past season due to Demko’s injury.

Tolopilo has been average at best through parts of three AHL seasons, and has struggled at the NHL level with a 3.51 GAA and a .882 SV%. The 2026-27 campaign will more than likely be his last in the Canucks organization.

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