The Vancouver Canucks have not wasted any time this offseason when it comes to making moves to improve their roster. Just a day after freeing up salary cap space with a trade, they signed forward Dakota Joshua to a four-year extension worth $3.25 million annually. This move is indicative of their commitment to building a competitive team for the upcoming season.
Offseason Activity
The signing of Dakota Joshua is just the latest in a series of proactive steps taken by the Canucks during this year’s offseason. With free agency looming, the team is working diligently to address their needs and solidify their lineup. Earlier this week, they re-signed center Teddy Blueger to a two-year contract valued at $1.8 million per season.
The trade that allowed Vancouver to create an additional $4 million in cap space by sending forwards Sam Lafferty and Ilya Mikheyev to the Chicago Blackhawks demonstrates the team’s commitment to effective salary cap management. This newfound flexibility will undoubtedly play a role in shaping the Canucks’ roster for the upcoming season.
Joshua’s Impressive Performance
Dakota Joshua’s stellar performance during the previous season has undoubtedly earned him this lucrative contract extension. Scoring a career-high 18 goals and 32 points in 63 games, Joshua proved himself to be a valuable asset to the team, particularly during the playoffs where he tallied four goals and eight points in 13 games.
With $15.040 million in cap space remaining, the Canucks still have some significant needs to address before the start of the new season. The impending decisions regarding pending UFAs Elias Lindholm, Tyler Myers, and Nikita Zadorov will undoubtedly have a major impact on the team’s future. Lindholm, who was a standout performer during the playoffs, Myers, who had his best season yet with the Canucks, and Zadorov, who proved to be a consistent force in the postseason, are all key players that the team will need to make decisions on.
Looking Ahead
As the offseason progresses, the Vancouver Canucks are taking decisive steps to solidify their roster and position themselves as legitimate contenders in the upcoming season. The signing of Dakota Joshua is just the beginning of what promises to be an eventful and impactful offseason for the team. With key decisions still to be made regarding pending UFAs and cap space to work with, the Canucks are poised to make some significant moves that will shape the team’s future for years to come.
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