April 13, 2025 | 9:00am ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

CANUCKS, BOESER REMAIN APART ON CONTRACT

Brock Boeser, forward

It does not seem like much has changed in contract discussions between the Vancouver Canucks and forward Brock Boeser, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Unable to come to terms on an extension all season, the Canucks and Boeser seem destined for a split.

Boeser has been looking for a six-to-eight-year agreement, while the Canucks seem to be set on a three-to-five-year deal.

During the “Saturday Headlines” segment on Hockey Night in Canada over the weekend, Elliotte Friedman reported no progress between the two sides.

“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 salary cap hit this season and was the subject of trade talks leading up to the trade deadline, but Canucks GM Patrik Allvin decided not to move him.

Meanwhile, Friedman also reported a decision looms for the Canucks and head coach Rick Tocchet.

Tocchet is in the final year of his contract, but the Canucks own a one-year option to detain his services, which they may decide to exercise. Alternatively, they can continue to work towards an extension or let him leave for another opportunity.

"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.”