The NHL Trade Deadline is just over a week away, and time is running out to decide what Brock Boeser’s future is going to be with the Vancouver Canucks.
Boeser spoke with Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre and discussed his feelings on how this situation has been approached, as well as being optimistic about his future if a deal doesn’t get done in Vancouver:
“We all know the three options that could happen (before the deadline): trade, re-sign or neither. If nothing happens and July 1 comes around, I still think I’m in a good spot (as a UFA). But I’ve talked to you and definitely been open about, you know, how much I love it in Vancouver. So, yeah, it’s actually frustrating that nothing’s got done. “
The Burnsville, Minnesota native shared that he understands hockey is a business but how it’s not fully out of his control. Boeser realizes he could produce more to be a bigger difference-maker on the ice.
The right-winger had a career year in 2023-2024. Boeser reached the 40-goal plateau and inserted himself as one of the NHL’s elite snipers. He added 33 assists for a 73-point campaign and solidified the defensive side of his game, finishing with a plus-23 rating.
The former first-round pick hasn’t found the same success this season. Through 50 games this season, Boeser has 18 goals and 17 assists for 35 points. His season was halted by a cheap head-shot from Los Angeles Kings forward Tanner Jeannot that held him out for seven games. Boeser is now on pace to finish the year with 26 goals and 24 assists for 50 points in 72 games – his lowest point total since the 2021-2022 season.
It hasn’t been the season Canucks fans and Boeser had hoped would follow a Pacific Division title and within one goal of the Western Conference Finals. There have been lots of changes, including the trade of one of Boeser’s regular linemates, JT Miller.
The American winger touched on how difficult the year has been and how he would have never expected the year to shake out how it has. However, he’s still encouraged by how the Canucks played before the break and is thankful the team is still in the hunt for the final Wild Card spot.
To read the full interview with quotes, click here.
Boeser is in the final year of his three-year $6.65 million bridge deal and is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin will have until March 7’s NHL Trade Deadline to decide whether to trade Boeser and if they don’t and can’t extend him, they risk losing Boeser for nothing.