Canucks Won’t “Squander Asset”, Trending Toward Boeser Trade

Vancouver Canucks’ insider Rick Dhaliwal spoke with Sportsnet reporter Iain MacIntyre about the status of talks between the team and forward Brock Boeser. Noting that the two sides haven’t talked since December, Dhaliwal wanted to know if it looked like a trade was the most likely outcome. MacIntyre responded that “it certainly seems to be trending that way.”

Where are things at between pending UFA Brock Boeser and the #Canucks?

Catch up on our chat with @imacSportsnet now!https://t.co/PXfgbMMxLf pic.twitter.com/OCC00gdc3x

— Donnie & Dhali (@DonnieandDhali) January 21, 2025

MacIntyre explained that the organization has said they need to make a decision on Boeser’s future before the trade deadline. That gives them a few weeks to figure out if they can sign him or need to shop him by March 7.

This is not a player they intend to keep as their own rental or risk letting walk away in free agency with no return. He’s too valuable and the Canucks’ situation is too tenuous to feel confident they can get a fair-value deal done. MacIntyre added that the Canucks would like to keep him for a playoff run, but the Canucks, like most teams, aren’t in a position to do that or squander a prime asset.

“It’s incredible how quiet, not just how the negotiations have been, but the story has been. This should be a huge story in our market, that Brock Boeser, the longest-tenured player on the Canucks, is coming off of 40 goal season, you’d think that would be a massive story, but there’s been so much more drama…”

Boeser Wants to Avoid Trade, Stay with Canucks

MacIntyre said he knows that Boeser badly wants to stay with the Canucks and play his career with the organization. But, Boeser’s production is down, and he’s struggled this season. “He just jasn’t made the impact that I think he wants to make.”

The scribe says that Boeser’s reputation as being well-liked by everyone could bring added value to him in a trade. Unfortunately, that might be worth more to another team than it does to the Canucks right now. “It’s hard to envision that he’s going to remain a Canuck,” said MacIntyre.

As for what teams are going to come calling once the Canucks make it known Boeser is available, that’s not yet known. The Columbus Blue Jackets are reportedly waiting and a team like the Carolina Hurricanes would show interest. Boeser would be coveted.

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