Canucks: Brock Boeser never wanted to leave, now he's staying with stunning contract

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You can go back home again when it looked like a change of scenery was imminent.

Unrestricted free agent winger Brock Boeser, a Minnesota native who has always considered Vancouver his second home, turned his long franchise goodbye into a big hello on Tuesday.

Despite countless reports of saying he was destined for free agency — and with as many six suitors vying for his services — the 28-year-old and longest-serving current member of the Canucks has landed a seven-year deal at US$7.25 million annually. And with Boeser projected by AFP to get a six-year contract at $8.45 million annually, there was clearly some give and take.

It’s a stunning development because of a long and protracted negotiation in which Boeser’s camp was pushing for at least six years at market value and not the five the Canucks pitched. And the trade acquisition of winger Evander Kane was expected to be the replacement for Boeser, who had a turbulent and drama-filled season but still managed 25 goals.

Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin tried to move the winger at the March deadline, and dropping a bomb of assessment, instead of pumping his value tires, the foundation for an off-season exit appeared in place.

“If I told you what I was offered for Brock Boeser, I think I would have to run out of here,” Allvin told reporters. “Because you would not believe me.”

Circling back to Boeser and finding a way to keep him was beyond prudent for the Canucks, who were 23rd in NHL scoring this season. They need more and heightened contributions to get back to the playoffs. Boeser can help here and has unfinished business with the core and close friendships.

Boeser has a full no-movement clause in first four years of his extension followed by a modified no-trade clause with a 15-team no-trade stipulation. It’s obviously of great comfort to know he won’t be the subject of trade rumours until latter portion of his deal.

“The realization of becoming a UFA (unrestricted free agent) is when you start thinking about should I leave?” said Allvin. “He had a vacation trip overseas and got back here the other day and we got talking again. The conversation and (agent) Ben Hankinson has always been good and he’s very professional and transparent. We talked about several options with Brock and he expressed interest in staying long term.

“A couple of players also reached out and Brock was aware that we were getting closer on (Thatcher) Demko and (Conor) Garland extensions. From an outside perspective, a lot of things went wrong last year. But when you talk to the players, there were pockets where we played really well and had 90 points. They understand this is something we continue to work on.

“The belief is there.”

Allvin also knows talk comes easy but the tough stuff is hard. He cites roster improvements throughout last season, including a better back end, that are going to make scoring chances more regular.

“With the addition of Marcus Pettersson and other young players, we’re able to move pucks quicker and spend less time in our own end,” stressed Allvin. “The coaches are looking at different ways and adding Evander (Kane) to the mix will give us more options to be better and better on the power play.”

However, the Canucks are out of roster-addition options with their $7 million in salary cap space vanishing in the Boeser move. Landing a centre is going to come by a trade.

And with a crowded crease, Arturs Šilovs is likely expendable because he’s not waiver exempt next season. The Calder Cup playoff most valuable player, who backstopped the Abbotsford Canucks to their first AHL crown, would be claimed in a re-assignment. The Canucks have improved goaltending depth in the organization, so the coveted Šilovs might be the price to get better up front.

“We’ll see,” said Allvin, “I’m always looking to improve the team, and if it makes sense, we’ll definitely look into it.”

For Boeser, the priority to remain in Vancouver never changed. He will address the media Wednesday morning, but throughout the season, his preference was to extend his career here and not elsewhere.

“I’ve said how much I love it here and I’m more than willing to come back,” Boeser said as the season wound down. “We’ll see if we can figure something out. Obviously, I’d love to re-sign but if that’s not the case, go to UFA and I’ll be just fine. That’s made me less stressed and just focusing on helping the team win.”

The constant contract comparable was winger Travis Konecny of the Philadelphia Flyers because of how he and Boeser have remained aligned in production. Boeser and Konecny were the 23rd and 24th overall draft picks in 2015 and then put up numbers that mirrored each other.

Konecny signed an eight-year, $70 million extension on July 24, 2024, that carries an annual $8.75 million cap hit. It’s a $3.25 million increase over his previous deal. It includes a no-movement clause in the first six years.

OVERTIME — UFA depth defenceman Noah Juulsen is joining former Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet in Philadelphia. Juulsen, 28, gets a one-year, one-way deal to bang bodies for the Flyers. Had 101 hits this season in 35 games.

bkuzma@postmedia.com