7 veteran free agents Vancouver Canucks could sign to help lead dressing room
Western Family and the Vancouver Canucks have teamed up to create Bar Down Blast – a limited-edition treat featuring vanilla ice cream swirled with blue ripple and caramel-filled mini chocolatey pucks.
The Vancouver Canucks need to add a lot to their roster this summer.
The team will be aggressive in trades as it looks to add impact players, especially to its forward group. However, high-end talent isn’t the only thing on its wish list.
The Canucks will also be looking to add some veteran voices. The departure of players like Ian Cole and Nikita Zadorov before last season left a leadership void.
When the dressing room was rocked by the Miller-Pettersson feud, some thought it proliferated last season because of the lack of veteran voices.
“One of the things on the July 1 to-do list for the Canucks is going to be to add more leadership,” said CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal on Halford & Brough.
The good news for the Canucks is that every summer brings some cheap veterans in free agency who can fill this need. Here are seven players they could target this summer.
1. Jamie Benn
- Age: 35
- Position: LW
- 2024-25 stats: 80 GP, 16 G, 33 A, 49 PTS
Jamie Benn has been the Dallas Stars captain since the 2013-14 season. He’s a pending free agent, and the Stars have several significant contracts they’ve either just given out or will need to in the coming years.
Benn still has game left and would bring some extra sandpaper to the Canucks lineup alongside his vast experience and leadership skills. He’s from Victoria, so maybe the Canucks would have an upper hand if he hits the open market.
2. Claude Giroux
- Age: 37
- Position: C/RW
- 2024-25 stats: 81 GP, 15 G, 35 A, 50 PTS
Claude Giroux is one of his generation’s best players, but he doesn’t have many years left. However, he is still an effective middle-six player and helped the Ottawa Senators make the playoffs this season.
Giroux captained the Philadelphia Flyers for a decade and has tons of experience to draw on. He’d be a leader in any NHL dressing room.
3. James van Riemsdyk
- Age: 36
- Position: LW
- 2024-25 stats: 71 GP, 16 G, 20 A, 36 PTS
James van Riemsdyk made his debut in 2009 and has scored double-digit goals every season since. At this point in his career, he’s ideally a third-line scoring threat who can help on the power play.
Van Riemsdyk has played nearly 1,100 NHL games and would be a prime example of a true professional for the young Canucks.
4. Kyle Palmieri
- Age: 34
- Position: RW
- 2024-25 stats: 82 GP, 24 G, 24 A, 48 PTS
Kyle Palmieri has scored 54 goals over the past two seasons and can still put the puck in the net. He was nearly traded at last spring’s deadline, but the New York Islanders held onto the veteran.
Palmieri would bring a good mix of experience and playing ability to the Canucks roster. The Canucks need scoring threats and the 34-year-old fits that description.
5. Brandon Tanev
- Age: 33
- Position: LW
- 2024-25 stats: 79 GP, 10 G, 12 A, 22 PTS
Brandon Tanev is slightly younger than some of the other players on this list, but he has a large personality that could fill the gap Zadorov left. Tanev is known around the league for his energy and attitude, something the Canucks could use to get their swagger back.
Tanev was a hot commodity at this year’s deadline and ended up on the Winnipeg Jets. If he hits the open market, he’ll have plenty of suitors, so the Canucks will need to have an impressive offer to secure his services.
6. Reilly Smith
- Age: 34
- Position: RW
- 2024-25 stats: 79 GP, 13 G, 27 A, 40 PTS
It feels like Reilly Smith will likely sign an extension with the Vegas Golden Knights but if he doesn’t, he makes a lot of sense for the Canucks. He won the Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights in 2023 and will hit the 1,000-game mark for his career next season if he stays healthy.
7. Yanni Gourde
- Age: 33
- Position: C
- 2024-25 stats: 57 GP, 7 G, 24 A, 31 PTS
Yanni Gourde is a winner and helped the Tampa Bay Lightning capture back-to-back Stanley Cups. While he’s listed at just 5-foot-9, he plays hard and can kill penalties.
Gourde is the ideal bottom-six forward and despite his numbers being down a bit this season, he’d be a worthwhile get for the Canucks.