Wild Don’t Have Easiest Path To Sign Brock Boeser

The Vancouver Canucks didn't trade Brock Boeser at the trade deadline for a couple of reasons. The team didn't get an offer close to where they were looking for and the Canucks thought it best to have more time to be able to try to re-sign him since that was the case.

The Canucks are still in a playoff spot and in the thick of the race, which helped too. Boeser is the second highest paid forward and fourth highest paid player on the team and with the cap rising significantly over the next number of years and his proven track record of scoring goals, he is going to get north of $7 million on an extension. The 28-year-old currently makes $6.65 million AAV on his second three-year bridge deal out of his entry-level contract.

Other than this down season offensively, Boeser has proven himself to be a formidable scorer in the NHL, which is tough to do. After just reaching 20 goals on the season, he is a six-time 20-goal scorer and netted 40 goals last season. Whether a change in scenery is needed or just a culture change in Vancouver, he is expected to bounce back next season. Realistically, he should put up better numbers than he did three seasons ago in 2021-22.

If Vancouver can't sign Boeser and he hits free agency, the Minnesota Wild are very likely going to pursue him. If it comes to that, the team is expected to have to overpay to get him, whether that be to outbid Vancouver, or just other teams.

The Wild may have to overpay, but a lot of cap space is freeing up for them, so it won't hurt the team as much as it may seem. Minnesota has to be in win-now mode. They have been able to stay nice and competitive while over $14 million in dead cap has been on the books. With that coming off, the expectation is for the team to take big swings and target players like Boeser, especially since a talent like him was born in Minnesota. We'll see how things play out between Vancouver and Boeser as we march closer to free agency this summer.