Canucks Hold On to Brock Boeser at the Deadline

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As the NHL trade deadline approached, speculation swirled around whether the Vancouver Canucks would move Brock Boeser, their longest tenured player and one of their most valuable trade assets. Despite the buzz, the deadline passed, and Boeser remains a Canuck. While some fans are relieved to see the loyal player stay, others wonder whether the team missed an opportunity to capitalize on his value.

Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin spoke candidly about the offers he received for Boeser, making it clear that nothing on the table was worth pulling the trigger.

“If I told you what I was offered for Brock Boeser, I think I would have to run out of here because you would not believe me,” Allvin said, hinting at underwhelming trade proposals.

These comments ruffled some feathers. Whether it was meant to be a shot at Boeser and his agent is unclear, but the message is the same: we couldn’t trade you for a bag of bricks, dude.

Given that Boeser was not moved, the focus now shifts to his future in Vancouver. Will the Canucks attempt to extend him, or was this simply a case of failing to find the right trade at the right time? According to Allvin, discussions about Boeser’s future are ongoing.

“We continue to talk here. I have a great relationship with Brock’s agent, so he’s been informed for months [on] where this might end up. Definitely not a surprise, I don’t think for either one of us that Brock is still here. Late last night, I just informed him that this, unfortunately, seems to be where it’s trending. I would imagine that Brock is extremely hungry to finish off strong here and prove that he is a good player in this league, and we’ll continue to talk.”

Boeser’s performance down the stretch could play a major role in determining his future with the Canucks. Fresh off his first 40-goal campaign just a season ago, he still has plenty left in the tank. Where he and club butt heads is in the contract length. Boeser is looking for a long-term deal to maximize potential earnings in the midst of his prime; probably 7 or 8 years. The Canucks, as of now, aren’t willing to commit to the 28-year-old for that long, but have reportedly offered him an extension in the 5-year, $7 million AAV range, but he declined. 

Still, the decision to hold onto Boeser raises through the deadline questions. While he is a productive scorer, keeping him means no recouping potential assets that could have helped the team retool if Boeser walks for nothing in the offseason. With Allvin emphasizing the “bigger picture,” some wonder if the Canucks missed a chance to better align their roster with their long-term vision.

For now, Boeser remains a Canuck. Whether that remains the case beyond this season is a question that will likely be revisited once again in the coming months.