The Canucks seem to be in a major pickle. The short term problems are that they will miss the playoffs this year. That seems to be a given.
The long term problems are a bit less obvious but they will become the elephant in the room in no time if this team can't right the ship by Christmas.
Quinn Hughes is arguably the best Canucks player of all time. He almost carried a team that was ravaged by injuries and drama all season to a wildcard berth. Yet, if the Canucks can't put a winner on the ice why would Hughes stick around? With his two brothers in New Jersey, the simple logic states he is more likely to wind up with the Devils then the two brothers coming to Vancouver.
The sad reality is, July 1st 2027 is coming quicker than most Canucks fans want it to come. To put some numbers in perspective, Erik Karlsson signed a 8 year 11.5 Million per year contract entering the 2020 season. His point production is still elite tallying 101 points in 2023 and 51 points so far this year. He was 29 when he signed this deal.
I project it will take 14.5 Million a year to sign him. Maybe more if the cap keeps going up. That would be an 8 year deal presumably which would lead him to being 35 years old. Keep in mind that there is a chance he isn't as good after he is 32. The Canucks owe it to their fans to be competitive in the next eight years given their last nine have been underwhelming.
The other option is to trade him. To use Erik Karlsson again, the haul Ottawa got in 2018 was massive and the Canucks would be able to fetch something similar. Here was the return.
| September 13, 2018 |
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