With the Vancouver Canucks officially in the second half of their season, it’s worth looking back at the club’s offseason moves.
A shocking move was the re-signing of Brock Boeser to a seven-year deal. The signing stunned fans as Boeser was all but out the door once last season ended.
But the Canucks backed up the Brinks truck for Boeser. The sides agreed to a $50.75 million contract. At the time, pundits believed the contract was a win for both sides. The Canucks kept their former 40-goal scorer, while Boeser remained entrenched at home.
Well, with the benefit of hindsight, the deal is starting to look bad. In 42 games this season, Boeser has just nine goals and 21 points. The 28-year-old won’t likely come close to his totals from last year.
Boeser’s 40 goals seem like a long time ago. If Boeser can’t rebound in the second half, the Canucks could be stuck with their former first-round pick for the next six seasons, mired in diminishing numbers.
Trading Boeser could become nearly impossible without retaining some money. And even if the Canucks did so, few teams would pay the price Vancouver has in mind. That’s why Boeser’s contract, as it stands, looks like something impossible to fix.
The 28-year-old Boeser is still a talented player. But if Saturday night’s game in Toronto was any indication, a turnaround may not come easily.
Boeser’s Decline a Sign of Canucks’ Overall Play This Season
It would be easy to single out Boeser’s poor performance if the Canucks were playing well. However, it seems that Boeser’s declining numbers are a sign of a broader issue with the team this season.
The Canucks have sunk to the bottom of the NHL. Their 5-0 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night seemed pretty uninspired. Moreover, the loss was the Canucks’ sixth in a row, effectively condemning the team’s season.
The post-Quinn Hughes trade bump faded quickly. The Canucks have regressed into the trend they were prior to the trade. Now, there’s not much doubt the Canucks are in a nosedive. That’s why it’s fair to assume that Boeser’s lackluster season could be more of a symptom than an actual indictment of his poor performance.
Boeser, Vancouver Need a Reset
Boeser and the Canucks need a reset. The Hughes trade offered that opportunity to a certain extent. But it wasn’t the full type of reset the team needed. At this point, the best opportunity for the club to push the reset button could be the Olympic break.
The three-week layoff could be a good chance to gather around the campfire and sing Kumbaya. That sort of effort could lead the club back on the right track. While it may not lead to a playoff spot, a reset, at least, would build positive momentum heading into 2026-27.
The main point now is to rescue whatever positives can come out of this season. The Canucks have an opportunity to build the foundation of a successful core moving forward. It might not be simple, but it’s definitely doable.
Canucks Worst Offseason Move May Be Impossible to Fix