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New York Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Canucks free-agent targets: 9 defenders who could complete Vancouver's blue-line
Under Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin, the Vancouver Canucks have thrown significant assets, money, draft capital and time to upgrade the club's defense corps. Slowly, but surely, those efforts have paid off. Even as the club has bled depth and talent up front, especially down the middle of their forward group, Vancouver's back-end is as chock full of upside, talent and potential as it's ever been in franchise history. Advertisement Obviously the club's back-end push is primarily driven by Quinn Hughes, still the reigning Norris Trophy winner (although he is unlikely to repeat, mostly due to injury). Even beyond the greatest individual defenseman in franchise history, however, Vancouver has a couple of additional top-pair calibre blue-liners on the roster (Filip Hronek, Marcus Pettersson), an additional sturdy, veteran in Tyler Myers and a stable of promising young defenders poised to establish themselves as everyday players as soon as next season in Victor Mancini, Elias Pettersson and Tom Willander. While the blue line seems relatively set, especially when compared with the state of the Canucks forward group, it's abundantly clear that the Canucks will need to add one more experienced, reliable player — ideally one with some penalty killing expertise — to their back end this summer. Perhaps it's as simple as re-signing Derek Forbort, whose penalty killing in particular proved to be spectacular in his one Vancouver season. Forbort, 33, however will be in demand and have some decent options this summer. If the club can't come to terms on a deal to keep him, reinforcements will have to be found elsewhere. The critical takeaway here is that while the Canucks will clearly proportion a greater share of their energy and resources this summer to reimagining their forward group, we shouldn't confuse the potential that the organization holds on the back-end with the notion that it's finished or settled going into this offseason. The club will need to add (or retain) at least one, and very likely two, veteran defenders to fill out this group. So let's get into some of the unrestricted free agent options the club may consider this summer. The headliner on this list is a local product, Coquitlam-born defender Dante Fabbro. Fabbro, 26, had spent his entire playing career with the Nashville Predators as a depth defenseman, but enjoyed a breakout season with the Columbus Blue Jackets following an early-season acquisition that saw him land in Central Ohio. Advertisement Paired up with Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski, Fabbro scored a career high nine goals and played steady, reliable defense while logging top pair minutes at five-on-five. He was also an effective secondary penalty killing option. The goal totals and overall minutes burden that Fabbro effectively handled will put him in line for a significant raise on the $2.5 million that he earned this past season. He may have some additional utility for a team like the Canucks, however, given his track record complimenting star puck-moving left-handed defenders (Werenski, and also Roman Josi). Certainly he'd give Adam Foote and his coaching staff some additional options in composing their defense pairs. Perbix seemingly came out of nowhere and emerged as a bright spot on Tampa's blue line as a 24-year-old rookie in the 2022-23 season. He was surprisingly adept at supporting more talented partners, so he split time playing with Victor Hedman and Mikhail Sergachev. At that time, it appeared that he might have the potential to grow into a quality No.4/5 defenseman. Jon Cooper experimented with increasing Perbix's ice time and the difficulty of his matchups during his sophomore campaign in 2023-24. The results were mixed, so the Lightning deployed him like a regular third-pair defenseman playing relatively sheltered matchups this season. Perbix owns a big 6-foot-4 frame (though he's not overly physical), skates well, and can contribute some secondary even-strength offence from the backend. He's driven solid two-way results, with the Lightning controlling a positive share of scoring chances and goals during his five-on-five shifts. Perbix is prone to occasionally making costly turnovers or getting caught out of position defensively, but the overall results prove that he's a serviceable depth defenseman with the size, skating, and puck skills to excel as a No.6/7 defenseman. Advertisement One factor that could work against Perbix is that he doesn't have much penalty killing experience at the NHL level. That could make him a suboptimal fit when you consider that many of the Canucks' young, up-and-coming defencemen (Elias Pettersson, Tom Willander, Victor Mancini) also don't have much big-league shorthanded experience, especially in the wake of Forbort's possible departure, too. Josh Mahura, 27, is a depth option on the back-end more in the mold of Erik Brännström than a sturdy, shutdown defender like Forbort. Mahura, who spent last season with the Seattle Kraken, is a strong skater who has often fared very well on a third pair in prescribed usage. He's capable of complimenting heavier, more physical defenders — like he often did in Florida, playing alongside Radko Gudas — and can be a helpful contributor in that sort of role. Overall Mahura would be an interesting depth addition, a classic seven or eight-type defender capable of skating with a player like Tyler Myers or playing a transitional style of defense alongside a younger player like Victor Mancini or Tom Willander on a third pair. Dumoulin may not be the elite top-four shutdown beast he was during his prime with Rutherford's Penguins, but he's still a dependable veteran blue-liner. The 33-year-old left-shot defender spent most of 2024-25, which was split between the Ducks and Devils, logging top-four minutes. Dumoulin was forced to take on a more difficult role than he's ideally suited for because of Anaheim's weak blue line — at the time of his trade to New Jersey, he had played the most minutes against 'elite' competition of any Ducks defenseman, according to PuckIQ. He had rough underlying numbers in Anaheim, but that shouldn't be too alarming because the team environment and role weren't conducive to positive results. By the eye test, he held his own about as reasonably as you could have expected. In New Jersey, Dumoulin still averaged nearly 19 minutes per game because of the Devils' backend injury woes. He performed well and then crushed all expectations in the playoffs, averaging over 22 minutes per game while looking like one of the team's most valuable defensemen. Dumoulin is a big-bodied, stay-at-home presence who can kill penalties. He's similar to the 2023-24 Canucks version of Ian Cole in that Dumoulin is probably best served in a third pair role but can comfortably handle top-four minutes if injuries strike. His steadiness and veteran savvy could be a nice fit alongside the Canucks' young crop of up-and-coming defensemen. The only concern is that he might price himself out of the Canucks' range with how well he played down the stretch and in the postseason. Advertisement Haydn Fleury was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes during Rutherford's tenure as general manager, so there's some connection with the Canucks front office to be mindful of here. The toolsy 6-foot-4 blue liner is an exceptional skater and a smooth puck mover, who has never really put it together to this point in his NHL career. Now a 28-year-old journeyman, Fleury has yet to appear in over 50 NHL games in a single season since his rookie year with the Hurricanes. Despite the inauspicious profile, Fleury can flat out play. He had some really exceptional moments stepping into playoff action for the Winnipeg Jets during the Stanley Cup playoffs, and would add some much needed size, quickness and puck-moving verve at a reasonable price for a team like the Canucks. Hutton isn't flashy or exciting, and he doesn't have extensive NHL experience, but he has qualities that would make him a steady, low-maintenance No.7/8 kind of defenceman. He profiles as a potential Noah Juulsen or Mark Friedman replacement. Hutton has the kind of size (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) that Adam Foote would covet, is generally reliable in his own zone, and can kill penalties. He doesn't do anything high-end enough to justify being an everyday part of a team's lineup — he split time between the NHL and AHL with the Islanders this season — but he'd boost the club's organizational depth on the right side. Importantly, he'd do it without being the kind of player who would block Willander or Mancini from NHL opportunities if either one is ready to take a step. A longtime Pittsburgh Penguins depth piece, Chad Ruhwedel fell out of the NHL and spent significant time at the American League level last season, playing 50 games for the Hartford Wolfpack, in his first AHL stint since 2019. The 35-year-old hails from San Diego, and he remains a high IQ defensive player, an experienced penalty killer and a strong skater with a heavy slap shot. As an organizational depth piece, think late-career Nolan Baumgartner, Ruhwedel's presence would make training camp more competitive for Vancouver's young blue liners and he could be a stabilizing agent for the Canucks if pressed into NHL duty in a depth role. Advertisement At first glance, Barrie might seem like a bit of an awkward fit for the Canucks. Barrie is primarily known for his offensive skill set, and the Canucks don't need a power-play quarterback, with Hughes running the first power-play unit and Hronek manning the second unit. The 33-year-old Victoria, BC native is more than just a power-play specialist, though. He's still a talented puck mover who can connect plays on zone exits. It wouldn't hurt the Canucks to add a veteran right-shot to the mix with that skill set, considering how pitiful the bottom-four defence's puck-moving was in the first half of 2024-25. Think of Barrie as insurance — he can add valuable puck-moving/offensive pop if the club runs into injuries to Quinn Hughes or Filip Hronek again, and he can be an NHL stopgap if Mancini and Willander need a bit of extra time to marinate in the AHL at the start of next season. Barrie would be dirt cheap after a 2024-25 season where he only suited up for 13 games because of Calgary's deeper-than-expected right-side blue-line depth. He's also a hilarious personality and has been a beloved teammate everywhere he's gone. There would be virtually no downside risk to taking a flier on Barrie — in a worst-case scenario where he doesn't look NHL-calibre and/or an opportunity isn't available because one or both of Willander and Mancini exceed expectations, you can always bury him in the press box or minors with zero cap implications. You could probably snag him on a professional tryout contract like the Flames did last fall before committing a contract slot to him, too. Marc Del Gaizo is Group VI unrestricted free agent at the age of 25 this summer. He'll hit the open market early because of a provision in the CBA that permits players who didn't log enough games played to test the market early, at the age of 25. A fourth-round pick back in 2019, Del Gaizo has been a farmhand depth player in the Predators organization throughout his career, but played a career high 47 games this past season and fared very well in a prescribed role on a deeply unstructured team. Although he stands less than 6-foot tall, and isn't the most physical player, Del Gaizo was a standout defensive contributor, based on his effort and two-way IQ. His efforts even more noticeable than they might've otherwise been while playing for a team that struggled enormously to defend. Del Gaizo's performance over the course of the year was solidly promising, and he represents a very intriguing low risk, upside bet for some team to place. With some investment and development, he's the sort of defender that could — if things fall right — help elevate the Canucks' blue line even further. (Top photo of Dante Fabbro of the Columbus Blue Jackets:)
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Adam Foote hired as new head coach of Vancouver Canucks
Two-time Stanley Cup champion Adam Foote has been hired as a head coach for the first time in his coaching career. The former Colorado Avalanche defenseman was hired by the Vancouver Canucks this week. Assistant coach Adam Foote of the Vancouver Canucks looks on from the bench during their NHL game against the Winnipeg Jets at Rogers Arena on March 9, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images Foote had a 19 year NHL playing career which started with the Quebec Nordiques. He stayed with the franchise when it moved to Denver and became the Colorado Avalanche and he stayed with the Avs for the remainder of his career, retiring as an Av in 2011. The Canucks hired Foote on Wednesday following the departure of head coach Rich Tocchet last month. Foote spent 2 1/2 years on the bench as an assistant to Tocchet, whose contract was not renewed by the club. Foote won the Stanley Cup twice with Colorado, in 1996 and 2001. The Avalanche retired his jersey -- No. 52 -- in 2013. As part of his job as an assistant coach with Vancouver, Foote coached the defensemen, including captain Quinn Hughes. "Adam brings structure, accountability, and a detailed oriented approach to his coaching, a process that will send a clear message to our group about the way we want to compete, practice and play hockey," Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said. "We are very happy to have him take over." Foote's coaching career started with the Avs as development consultant and defensive coach. He spent four years in that role and working with Hockey Canada. Before joining the Canucks, he coached the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League for two seasons.
CBC
14-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Canucks promote Adam Foote to head coach, replacing Rick Tocchet
The Vancouver Canucks have named Adam Foote as their new head coach. Foote becomes the 22nd head coach in franchise history and replaces Rick Tocchet, who parted ways with the Canucks on April 29 and is rumoured to become the next head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. Media reports earlier this week speculated that either Foote, who joined Vancouver as an assistant coach when Tocchet was hired on Jan. 22, 2023, or Abbotsford Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra would succeed Tocchet. Foote was believed to be the preferred candidate of Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. The Canucks struggled to a 38-30-14 record this season and missed the playoffs a year after advancing to the second round of the post-season and taking the Edmonton Oilers to seven games. This is the first NHL head coaching job for the 53-year-old Foote, whose only previous head coaching experience came during a season and a half with the Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets. Foote played 19 seasons as a defenceman with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche and the Columbus Blue Jackets, helping the Avs win Stanley Cups in 1996 and 2001.
New York Times
13-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Potential Flyers upgrades, trades and offer sheets, and is Rick Tocchet a sensible choice?: Mailbag
Sorting through some Philadelphia Flyers mailbag questions while we await the announcement of their next head coach. (Some questions have been lightly edited for style and clarity.) The Flyers need a No. 1 center, No. 1 defenseman and No. 1 goalie. Which is most likely position that they can obtain in a trade or free-agent signing? — Warren B. I feel like I've seen this a few times and while I don't necessarily disagree, I think it's a bit too narrow to phrase it this way. Advertisement Yes, the Flyers need a No. 1 center. They know it, they've admitted it, they're searching for it and they know it won't be easy. But as far as procuring a No. 1 defenseman and No. 1 goalie, a certain amount of patience is necessary. In terms of the defense, it depends how you define what a No. 1 is. Is a guy like Edmonton's Evan Bouchard, for example, a No. 1 defenseman? He can produce offensively but has frequent misadventures in the defensive zone. What about Carolina's Jaccob Slavin? He's one of the best defensive defensemen in the league, but he isn't a huge points guy. And what about the Florida Panthers? Yes, Aaron Ekblad and Gustav Forsling are very good top-pair defensemen, but neither is on the level of, say, a Cale Makar or a Quinn Hughes, and it didn't stop the Panthers from winning a Stanley Cup last season. Assuming there aren't any Makar or Hughes-types in the Flyers' future, it's probably going to have to be done by committee. And in that regard, they might already have some pieces in place. Travis Sanheim playing a key role on Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off wasn't a fluke, and although he faded for the Flyers after the trade deadline, I wonder if he was worn out, not just physically but also mentally, playing out the string for another non-playoff team and after seeing the team make the subtractions it did. Sanheim looked rejuvenated after John Tortorella was fired, too. It's also far too early to give up on Jamie Drysdale becoming an offensive force. He finally looked like he was turning a corner over the second half of last season, and he only just turned 23. There is still potential there. A guy like 24-year-old Cam York, too, still has plenty of runway to get better. This reminds me of an approximately 40-minute conversation I had with Chris Pronger a couple of months ago, in which he pointed out that 'most defensemen in their prime are when they're 26, 27, 28 years old, depending on how much experience they have.' It was in relation to Drysdale, who has missed a ton of time due to various injuries, but he was speaking broadly, too. Advertisement 'It takes a lot of time,' Pronger said. 'We can go through every defenseman in the NHL and look at all the times that they've struggled. Someone (on social media) said, 'Well, Cale Makar didn't struggle.' But Cale Makar is a special f—ing player. Don't start comparing apples and oranges. There are going to be outliers, there's going to be the special players that just don't take as much time because they're ahead of the curve.' As for a No. 1 goalie, yes, this also is a need. Sam Ersson showed this season that he's not quite prepared to take that on role, but it's also too early to suggest he never will. I expect the Flyers to acquire a veteran goalie this offseason, whether that's through free agency or a trade, with the expectation that either Carson Bjarnason and/or Egor Zavragin will be ready to play NHL games in 2027-28. Is either of them a future No. 1? It's impossible to say at this point. The Flyers need to acquire a young center in a trade this summer who we can build around. We have a surplus of wingers and some will be part of that trade when it happens. Which wingers do you see as a legitimate part of the Flyers' future? — Bryan V. If we're talking strictly about wingers they think will be part of the future for the next half-decade or so, I would say that's Matvei Michkov (obviously), Travis Konecny and Tyson Foerster. I believe you can pencil those three in the lineup for the next half-decade or so, at least. So who might they move, as you suggest, in a deal for a center? Owen Tippett is an interesting case, as a former first-round pick who is locked into a lengthy contract. He doesn't have any trade protection until 2026-27, when a 10-team no-trade list kicks in. Tippett, though, is coming off of a down season, going from 28 goals in 2023-24 to just 20 this season. At $6.2 million for seven more seasons, I'm not sure how many other teams would be interested, even though I believe Tippett is better than what he showed in 2024-25. I could see Bobby Brink as trade bait this offseason if the Flyers are putting together a package for a young center. His stock should be on the rise after his 41-point season as part of the Flyers' most consistent line, and at some point the Flyers are going to have to start getting bigger. Advertisement The decision-makers have to realize that hiring Rick Tocchet would be viewed as 'same old Flyers' in how they go about their business, right? Tortorella always seemed like a guy who was destined to be a Flyers coach, and that came true. And now we have a (61-year-old) former Flyer rumored to take over. — Brett T. Maybe they realize it, but I'm certain they are not even remotely worried about it. For starters, it's a silly argument. Rick Tocchet has coached for five different organizations, none of them the Flyers. Yes, he happens to be a former Flyers forward, and a popular one at that. But he hasn't been with the organization in more than two decades. Tocchet is respected throughout the hockey community, and thought of as a good coach — and it seems to me that many fans in both Pittsburgh and Boston also are hoping he ends up in their city. You can argue all you want that Tocchet might not be the right coach for this team, and maybe you're correct. But in no world should the Flyers' decision-makers be focused on anything other than selecting the coach they believe is best suited for this team, particularly during what is a tenuous time in the rebuild. If they believe Tocchet is the right guy to oversee the next step, and Tocchet wants to be here, that's that. The evaluation on Tocchet can begin in earnest at that point. Further, I still think a plurality of Flyers fans — particularly the casual fans — would welcome the move. Tocchet would be just as effective of a day-to-day spokesman for the club as Tortorella was, and, at least from what I've seen, is pretty honest with reporters, too. That's something that endeared Tortorella to the fan base, and I think something similar also would happen in short order with Tocchet. If the Flyers decide to trade their No. 6 overall draft pick as a package for a 1C, what are some teams/players you see as feasible? — Scott G. That would certainly be a blockbuster. I also wouldn't completely rule it out, but, of course, it would have to be for a young center with true elite-level talent and upside. I've mentioned Mason McTavish as one possible target, although it seems as if the Anaheim Ducks want to make a playoff push next season, so that may not be realistic. A few other young centers I'd consider swapping that pick for would be Matty Beniers in Seattle, Wyatt Johnston in Dallas or Will Smith in San Jose. I'd be less willing to deal it for guys such as Buffalo's Tage Thompson, Gabe Vilardi in Winnipeg or Marco Rossi in Minnesota, even though I could see them as potential targets if they were ever shopped. Of course, this is just a fantasy exercise. Most or all of those guys listed wouldn't be available. But, if one of them is? The Flyers have to consider just about anything. Advertisement Could an offer sheet for Devon Levi make sense? — Tyler B. My initial reaction is, probably not. Levi has played only 39 NHL games, and goalies are so difficult to project that I doubt it's worth spending draft picks to simply take a chance on another one. I could see the Flyers drafting another goalie with one of their four second-round picks in the coming draft, though, just to add depth to the prospect pool at that position — especially considering we've probably seen the last of Aleksei Kolosov. How badly has the Flyers' perpetual mediocrity and lack of direction over the last decade hurt their ability to attract viable free agents? — Robin P. I'm sure it's hurt to some extent but this is a great question because it strikes at the heart of why Daniel Briere wants to turn the corner on the rebuild now: he and Keith Jones want the club to be perceived as an up-and-coming group this time next year, when they hope to be a destination for some of the top free agents that might be available. If the Flyers were to bottom out next season, as some fans seem to prefer, well, good luck trying to lure a true high-end player next summer. It's why this offseason, and next season, are so vital. Is the 'Brady Martin to the Flyers' buzz legitimate or just lazy stereotyping of what previous front offices would do (i.e., the kid hits, therefore the Flyers will draft him)? — Charles K. I'd say it's because they need a center, of course, but he would also add some needed size and physicality to their prospect pool. Jett Luchanko isn't an overly physical guy, and while Alex Bump has a decent frame, he's more of a shooter than anything and he needs to improve his skating. Denver Barkey, probably their third-best forward prospect, isn't just undersized — he's flat-out small. Taking a guy who can hit as well as score isn't necessarily the wrong move here. You're been watching the playoffs the past couple of years, right? It's still a vital part of the game. So, yes, I think that speculation has some legs. (And for the record, despite other reports I've seen out there, Martin's agent, Cam Stewart, is no long affiliated with Kurt Overhardt, who was Cutter Gauthier's agent. So, that's not a concern.) If you gave the Flyers even league-average goaltending, we would have been a playoff team this year. Agree or disagree? — Will C. Disagree. Looking at the stats, Moneypuck has the Flyers at 18.11 goals-allowed above expected. The team finished with a minus-48 goal differential for the season, so even if the goalies stopped all of the shots they should have, that doesn't even get them back to a respectable level (if you buy into these sorts of numbers). Advertisement If you want to argue that league-average goaltending and a league-average power play would have made them a playoff team, well, maybe. After all, the Flyers' underlying/possession numbers at five-on-five were pretty good — eighth in the league for expected goals percentage, according to that same site. If you need a reason to believe that, with the right tweaks this summer, the Flyers could challenge for the playoffs in 2025-26, that's a good place to start. But, let's face it — just about every bad team (other than a few of the true bottom-feeders, such as San Jose and Chicago) can pick out areas of their respective games that, had they been better, would have had them in the playoffs. What do you see as Alex Bump's ceiling next year, assuming he makes the team? — Austin L. I wouldn't assume he's going to make the team just yet, although he certainly seems to have a real chance. He turns 22 in November, so he's not going to be your standard prospect at his first training camp. He's fully grown into his body, and should be more prepared for the physical challenges of pro hockey than someone like, say, 18-year-old Luchanko was at the start of last season. Assuming the Flyers re-sign pending restricted free agent Jakob Pelletier, the competition for depth spots at left wing could be one of the more compelling storylines in camp. Pelletier and Nic Deslauriers manned the left wing on the third and fourth lines, respectively, at the end of the season. Bump could absolutely supplant one of them in the opening-night lineup, in my mind. As for his ceiling, obviously anything close to a 15-or-20-goal season would be a boon from a former fifth-round pick. That could depend on whether the Flyers see Bump as a power-play guy — and as a volume shooter, perhaps he will get a chance on one of the two units, if he makes the team. (Photo of Rick Tocchet: Bob Frid / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canadiens React to NHL's Major Lane Hutson Announcement
The Montreal Canadiens took to social media on Monday to highlight a milestone rarely seen in franchise history. 'Lane Hutson has been named a finalist for the Calder Trophy!' the club posted on X, celebrating the 21-year-old defenseman's nomination for the NHL's rookie of the year award. Advertisement It marks the first time in more than a decade that a Canadiens player has reached this stage—and if he wins, Hutson would be the club's first Calder Trophy recipient since Ken Dryden in 1972. Hutson's first full NHL season, after appearing in two games last year, was among the best ever by a rookie defenseman in league history. The blueliner led all first-year players in points (66), assists (60), power-play points (26), and average ice time (22:44). Hutson also set a new franchise record for most points by a rookie blue-liner, breaking Chris Chelios' 64-point mark from 1984-85. The former Boston University star tied Larry Murphy's league record for most assists by a rookie defenseman and matched Phil Housley for fourth in all-time points by a first-year NHL blueliner. Drafted 62nd overall in 2022, Hutson became the first rookie defenseman to lead all NHL rookies in points since Quinn Hughes in 2019–20. Advertisement He was also named Rookie of the Month twice—in December and March—becoming the first defenseman to earn the honor multiple times in a season since Nicklas Lidstrom in 1991-92. Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (48) considers his options with the puck at Bell Kirouac-Imagn Images The other Calder finalists are Macklin Celebrini, who posted 63 points for the Sharks as an 18-year-old, and Flames goalie Dustin Wolf, who went 29–16–8 with a .910 save percentage. The winner will be announced at the NHL Awards in June. The National Hockey League started to announce finalists for the 2025 NHL Awards on Monday, April 28, with the winners set to be announced in the near future, without a date set yet. Related: Canadiens React to NHL's Announcement on Coach Martin St. Louis Related: Sidney Crosby's Agent Confirms Nathan MacKinnon's Hockey Canada Decision
