The Vancouver Canucks’ search for an upgrade at the center position has taken on somewhat of an unexpected twist. According to a report by Thomas Drance in The Athletic published on August 19, the club has passed on top UFA target Jack Roslovic.
Roslovic is regarded as the best available UFA forward at the moment. Several teams have expressed interest in the 28-year-old, including the Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Canucks were in hot pursuit of Roslovic. But as Drance noted, that’s no longer the case. Drance wrote:
“At this point, from what I can gather from senior club sources informed about the organization’s thinking on the matter, the Canucks have cooled significantly on the prospect of adding Roslovic as an unrestricted free agent at this point.”
The need for the Canucks to upgrade at center is still there. But the club no longer feels that Roslovic is the most viable option.
Drance added:
“Vancouver is still in the market to land a centre, but the trade market is viewed as a more likely and realistic route of addressing the club’s greatest remaining need.”
Drance added that the Canucks are still looking to add a middle-six center at the very least. That could happen in the trade market. So, fans will have to keep their eyes open to see what the Canucks can do this season.
Canucks Baking on Chytil, Raty making significant difference
One of the main reasons behind the Canucks change of mind regarding Roslovic is the belief that Filip Chytil and Aatu Raty can fill the void in the lineup.
Chytil was part of the return in the J.T. Miller trade with the New York Rangers. Meanwhile, Raty came over to the Canucks in the Bo Horvat deal with the New York Islanders a couple of seasons ago.
Raty was high on the Vancouver’s radar, but has seemed to stall in his development. But his play later in the season and performance in the AHL playoffs seemed to convince the Canucks that he belongs in the NHL.
As for Chytil, health is the biggest issue surrounding his role with the club. The Canucks believe that a healthy Chytil could fill the 2C spot well enough. That situation could preclude the need to sign a free agent like Roslovic or overpay on the trade market.
Vancouver Likely to Add at Some Point this Season
The Canucks will likely add more pieces at some point this season. There are always movements in October as the season is about to begin. Some teams may need to make moves based on injuries or positional needs.
So, that could be a moment in which Vancouver can strike a deal. As the season wears on, some teams will fade in the standings. That could also open up an opportunity for the Canucks to make a deal with a struggling team.
Perhaps a club like Nashville, Pittsburgh, or Anaheim may be willing to move a middle-six forward for a reasonable price.
Canucks fans should keep an eye on the rumor mill as the club is certainly not done retooling its roster for this upcoming season.
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