Insider Reveals Update on 3 Canucks Pending Free Agent Defensemen

After the season-long struggle with anxiety over Elias Pettersson's contract situation being finally resolved, Vancouver Canucks fans can turn their angst to defenseman Filip Hronek. The top-pairing blueliner is a restricted free agent after the season with arbitration rights. He is due for a huge raise from his expiring $4.4 million AAV.

But he's not the only backliner the Canucks need to worry about. They have two other huge decisions to make (and we do mean huge) in 6'8" Tyler Myers and 6'6" Nikita Zadorov. Both will be UFAs after the season.

Hronek is obviously a sure thing. It'll get done, one way or another. "This would really have to go off the rails for it not to happen," said insider Elliotte Friedman on Friday's 32 Thoughts podcast.

But as for the other two... Can Vancouver afford them both? And if not, which one do they keep?

If it were up to Canucks fans, Zadorov would be the one they re-sign over Myers. A Donnie & Dhali poll shows overwhelmingly that about 85% would go with Zadorov.

Rick Dhaliwal, however, disagrees with that assessment.

Who should the #Canucks keep between Tyler Myers or Nikita Zadorov?@DonTaylor5 and @DhaliwalSports chat about our poll question and the future of two of the #Canucks pending UFA's.https://t.co/h4e2SKM7eJ pic.twitter.com/R4M0WtLM9D
— Donnie & Dhali (@DonnieandDhali) March 15, 2024

"People have to realize, the Canucks issues are on the right side. If Myers leaves tomorrow, they now have to go hunting for a right-shot defenceman. That's very expensive... Right-shot defensemen, they're hard to come by. Do you wanna go shopping for a right-shot defenceman on July 1? You're gonna have to pay."

Friedman agrees that they'll try to re-sign the 34-year-old Myers at a lower number than the $6 million cap hit that expires after the season. But as for Zadorov?

"I think he might get priced out of there. I think it might be just too high a number for them," said Friedman.

Photo: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports