Canucks: Brock Boeser reunion with J.T. Miller on Broadway a matter of dollars and sense
How are the New York Rangers going to wing it next NHL season?
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And how does disgruntled Vancouver Canucks unrestricted free agent Brock Boeser possibly figure into their plans?
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The Rangers traded long-serving winger Chris Kreider, 34, to the Anaheim Ducks last week, hired Mike Sullivan as head coach in early May to replace the fired Peter Laviolette, and vow to get back to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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That go-for-it mantra will dictate spending to fill the void — the Rangers could also be targeted by offer sheets — but Boeser could be a top-six fit to rekindle chemistry with centre J.T. Miller. When healthy, Boeser is a 30-goal scorer, and his 12 points (7-5) in a dozen playoff games in 2024 opened a lot of eyes. Especially his gaudy 25.9 per cent shooting percentage.
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'It could be a good option and good fit with J.T.,' a source told Postmedia. 'The Rangers did free up some money, but have players to sign.'
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New York has approximately $15 million to $18 million US in salary-cap space, depending on how it addresses its restricted free agents and improving offensively, and a key is the big RFA left winger Will Cuylle, 23.
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He is projected as a second-liner after 20 goal and 45 points this season, but his leap from an entry-level deal could be as much as $3.4 million annually to align with Miller and Boeser.
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The Rangers had one player in top-50 scoring who was with the club all season. Artemi Panarin finished 13th with 89 points (37-52), but they also had five who cracked the 20-goal plateau. Augmenting the right side is critical after first-liner Alexis Lafreniere, 23, who had just 17 goals this season. It thins out fast after that.
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UFA Mitch Marner is too expensive and projected by AFP Analytics to command a seven-year deal at $13 million annually. Nikolaj Ehlers, who has been on the Canucks' radar in the past, is speedy but small and injury prone. But he is expected to land a six-year contract at $8.1 million in average value.
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Boeser, 28, is slotted to sign somewhere for six years at $8.46 million annually. That is one year longer and a bump from $8 million that the Canucks were offering. Factor in odd management trade-deadline optics in March of Boeser's supposedly low return in a possible deal — instead of pumping his tires as an asset — and here we are.
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Add too much past drama as the longest serving current Canuck and he needs a change of scenery and career outlook. Hard to imagine Boeser would pivot back to the Canucks if he doesn't find a free-agency fit.
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