Travis Konecny and Boeser had similar production the last three seasons. Konecny then signed an eight-year extension with a US$8.75 million salary cap hit. Where could, should Boeser slot in?
Patrik Allvin should log some table time at a Las Vegas casino on Thursday.
He has certainly done it in Vancouver.
It was cool and calculated.
Rewarding production and future worth is a poker game of leverage and who holds the winning hand. The sides did eventually agree on a four-year, US$13 million deal on June 27 before Joshua could get to the open market.
This is what I thought of that Allvin approach:
1. A surprise shot across the negotiating bow. Joshua put up career numbers, led in hits, and could push to at least triple his expiring US$825,000 cap hit. Or he could walk and surpass $3 million in the open market.
2. Grudging admiration for a project player who found his game and consistency on a line that was the best many nights. And size does matter, especially in the playoffs. He delivered.
3. A quest to find another affordable player like Joshua to add more size and bite and skill because there isn’t that package of details and deterrent in the system. Should sign Joshua.
The pending UFA winger scored a career-high 40 goals last season, became a more complete and responsible player, and has always professed his love for the team and city. That works to Allvin’s advantage.
But it also plays into where the Canucks think they are today and in a few years. Is Boeser part of that plan?
And if this edition of the consistently inconsistent Canucks means making moves in advance to the March 7 trade deadline to bolster the playoff roster, where does that leave Boeser?
It should be in a good spot.
He scored 175 regular-season goals the last seven seasons and averaged 25 and is on pace for 30 this campaign. He also played hard and had 12 points (7-5) in a dozen postseason games last spring before being sidelined by a blood-clotting issue.
The comparable I’ve referenced on several occasions is Philadephia Flyers winger Travis Konecny. Boeser is going to get a good bump on an expiring three-year, $19.95 million extension and $6.65 million salary cap hit. But how much?
Konecny signed an eight-year, $70 million extension June 27 that carries a $8.75 million cap hit, a $3.25 million increase over his previous deal. He’s rewarding the faith by leading the Flyers in scoring with 36 points (15-21) through 31 games.
The Konecny cap number is probably a problem for the Canucks, but it shouldn’t be.
“We’ll deal with that when the time comes,” Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said Saturday in a Hockey Night in Canada appearance. “Right now, we’re evaluating his situation and the key is going to be what that contract looks like and what the term looks like.
“It’s like all contracts. The player is going to have a difference of opinion than what the team has and we’ll continue to watch this really close.”
Boeser and Konecny were the 23rd and 24th overall selections, respectively, in the 2015 NHL Draft. They have kept that close connection in production the past three seasons and there’s little to separate the wingers.
Konecny had 181 points (80-101) over that span and consecutive seasons of 31 and 33 goals. Boeser had 174 points (81-93) over the past three campaigns. And last season, the point-per-game comparison had Boeser at 0.90 and Konecny at 0.89.
Boeser is also not that far removed from wondering what his future here would hold.
In March of 2023, his named surfaced in trade rumours. He pledged to score 30 goals, but a fluky training-camp injury and struggles to heal a surgically repaired hand sent him on a trajectory of ineffectiveness and indifference.
He didn’t score in his first 11 games, had just nine goals at the NHL All-Star Game break. Boeser’s agent had permission to broker a trade because it appeared a change may be required. It didn’t occur.
“It’s a lot different scenario for me this time around, rather than being an RFA with arbitration rights,” Boeser told Postmedia. “Now, as a UFA, it’s a little different.
“I believe whatever is going to happen is going to happen, but I’ve spoken about how much I want to stay. I really can’t picture myself being somewhere else next year.
“It feels like home. Of course, I want to re-sign but I can’t get stressed about it. I just have to make sure I’m playing my game. I felt I wasn’t at my best coming out of the (Nov. 7) concussion, but I’m starting to feel better and better.
“I haven’t scored as much of late (two goals in the last 11 games) and I’m drifting a little bit too much from the net and that’s where a lot of the top scorers score.
That dimension is of added value. But how much?