An update appears to have been provided by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on the Brock Boeser-Canucks contract situation, and they are pretty far apart.
There has not been much movement on contract talks between the Vancouver Canucks and forward Brock Boeser, who becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Having failed to reach an extension during the season, it now appears a parting of the ways between Boeser and the Canucks is increasingly possible.
Boeser is reported to be looking for a long-term deal in the six-to-eight-year range, while Vancouver wants something shorter, in the three-to-five-year range.
During this weekend’s “Saturday Headlines” on ‘Hockey Night in Canada, insider Elliotte Friedman reported that there has been no movement yet in negotiations.
“Never say never, but term is the issue with both Boeser and the Canucks have found hard to bridge,” Friedman said.
Boeser, 28, has a $6.65 million cap hit this season and was the subject of trade speculation in the weeks leading to the deadline, but GM Patrik Allvin chose to keep him.
A decision will also be made shortly regarding Rick Tocchet
Friedman also stated that a decision is looming regarding the status of head coach Rick Tocchet. Tocchet is coming off the final year of his deal, but the Canucks hold a team option for a single extra season.
“The one thing I do believe is nobody – not Tocchet, not the Canucks – want this to drag into the end of the season, after the end of the season, too long into the summer,” Friedman said. “I think you’re going to see how this is going to work out come down pretty quickly at the end of the season.”
They can exercise the option, negotiate a new extension, or allow him to shop elsewhere.