What a Brock Boeser Extension Looks Like for the Canucks

Brock Boeser’s future with the Vancouver Canucks is a hot topic as he approaches free agency in the final year of his contract. Coming off a career-best 40-goal season a year ago, Boeser’s next deal will be a big decision for both the player and the franchise.

Boeser, 27, has been consistent in the offensive zone scoring 175 goals over the past seven seasons and really rounding out his game over the last three. His career-high 40-goal, 73-point campaign in 2023-24 solidified his reputation as a top-tier winger and premier scorer in the league. 

A key comparison for Boeser is Philadelphia’s Travis Konecny, who signed an eight-year, $70 million extension ($8.75M AAV). While Konecny’s deal may be out of reach for Vancouver, it sets a benchmark for Boeser’s next contract.

Historically, 40-goal scorers earn significant raises. Players like Zach Hyman, Elias Lindholm, and Carter Verhaeghe were underpaid at the time of their breakout seasons. Boeser, already making $6.65 million per year, is unlikely to accept a pay cut. The rising NHL salary cap also plays in his favor, making a $7 million-plus AAV reasonable.

The Canucks will have to weigh Boeser’s contract length carefully. At 28, this will likely be his last major deal, so the Minnesota native will be looking to cash in long-term. The longer the term, the lower the cap hit, and vice versa. Boeser’s footspeed has been an issue throughout his career so on the one hand, he’s adapted his game to be effective without top-tier skating speed, but on the other hand, he’s probably only going to get slower as he gets older. 

The team also has to consider its overall salary structure. Elias Pettersson’s $11.6 million cap hit sets the ceiling, but the Canucks are projected to have over $22 million in cap space heading into 2025-26. A couple recent trades involving J.T. Miller and Vincent Desharnais cleared over $10 million in cap space, and the Canucks inked defenceman Marcus Pettersson to a six-year-deal shortly after acquiring him. 

While Boeser becomes eligible for an extension on July 1, 2024, negotiations may not be immediate. I’d expect his next contract to be in the range of five to seven years, with an AAV between $7 and $8 million as the NHL’s salary cap continues to rise. The Canucks have to try and balance financial flexibility with retaining a key offensive weapon, making this extension a pivotal decision for Vancouver’s future with their window to win lying in the duration of Quinn Hughes’ contract.

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