Entering an uncertain offseason, the Vancouver Canucks re-signed forward Brock Boeser earlier this month. The contract extension is for three years and carries a $6.65 million cap hit.
Boeser is 25 years old and is coming off a disappointing season with the Canucks. He still scored 23 goals and 46 points in 71 games, a pace of 27 goals and 53 points per 82 games, but the numbers were underwhelming for a player of his caliber.
So with Boeser back for three more years, we examine how the contract looks for the Canucks.
Brock Boeser to Canucks grade
The Player
Brock Boeser spent five full seasons in the NHL to this point. Prior to this year, he was consistently averaging between 65 and 75 points per 82 in each season. This was also only his second season in which he didn't manage a pace of 30 goals per 82. Boeser actually did end up increasing his shots per game average this year from the 2020-21 season though, showing his shot generation itself hasn't been impacted.
Despite the down year, Boeser remains a top talent and keeping him around was key for the Canucks. It's easy to forget he's still only in his mid-20s and could possibly progress even further. There was the possibility of Vancouver trading him but inking him to an extension was almost surely the right decision.
Even with some questions around where the team goes from here, Boeser is young enough to keep around long-term.
The Term
In regards to the contract itself, the term is a bit of a disappointment. From the Canucks perspective, they probably didn't want to commit to Boeser long-term after a down year. You usually don't see top players at Boeser's age end up with just a three-year deal though. If he can stay healthy, chances are Boeser will bounce back next season and reach a 30-goal and 70-point pace.
This could've been a great opportunity for the Canucks to capitalize while Boeser's value was low. A three-year deal does minimize risk and leaves the team with options if they ended up wanting to deal him for assets later on. That said, it could've been a good move to gamble and try to get a long-term deal done.
If the Canucks had looked to sign Boeser to a six, seven or even eight-year contract, they may have ended up paying more than $7.5 million per year but would also have cost certainty on a young, high-end scorer. It may seem like too large of a risk but it's also the kind of move that could've provided huge upside.
As a result, the term of the deal leaves something to be desired. Boeser will be set to hit free agency at 28 years old and the Canucks may have missed a great chance to lock him up long-term.
The Cap Hit
As for Boeser's salary on the three-year deal, it was fine but also not great for Vancouver. Given his reduced production this year, it's surprising the number didn't come in a bit lower. Or, in turn, if the cap hit was $6.65 million, it's somewhat surprising the term wasn't a bit longer. That said, there was no way a three-year deal would pay him less than $6 million per year and overall, the $6.65 million cap hit is still alright. Even if Boeser doesn't fully bounce back, it's a manageable number for the Canucks to work with.
The other factor is that the lower cap hit on a short-term deal gives Vancouver more flexibility. While the Canucks were heavily reported to have been closing in on trading J.T. Miller, there's still the possibility he's re-signed. Miller has a single year left on his contract and will be due for a substantial raise next summer. He's also not the only key free agent in 2023, as Bo Horvat will be a UFA as well. Keeping Boeser's number a bit lower could be crucial in terms of retaining one or both of Miller and Horvat.
So while the cap hit isn't great, it's still alright overall for the Canucks.
Another key point to bring up is that Boeser's deal doesn't include much trade protection. He isn't eligible for a no-trade clause for most of the deal but even in the final year, he'll still only be submitting just a 10-team no-trade list. So if Vancouver ended up wanting to move him before the deal expired, they should be able to.
While Vancouver may have missed a bit of an opportunity to keep Brock Boeser around for longer, it's still a fine extension. The important thing is that Vancouver was able to bring him back on a deal with a bit of term. He's a key winger for the Canucks and at just 25 years old, he should still be considered as a key part of their future. Again, all signs point to the winger returning to form as well.
While neither the term or cap hit is great, it's still a fine deal for the Canucks.
Brock Boeser – Canucks Grade: C+
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