Decoding Cap Management: How the Canucks Can Stay Competitive

Strategic Adjustments for Cap Space

The Canucks are currently over the salary cap by $668,750. To address this, the team could consider several options. One potential strategy is trading players with higher salaries for lower ones. This could free up cap space while still maintaining a solid roster. However, this approach requires careful consideration to ensure the team’s performance isn’t compromised.

Another option is buying out contracts. This involves paying a player a portion of their contract to release them from the team, freeing up cap space. However, this can have long-term financial implications and should be considered a last resort.

One of the most intriguing options would be to trade bad contracts for prospects or players. Players that are on the trade rumours are Brock Boeser, Connor Garland and Tyler Meyers.

I wouldn’t be shocked to hear some other players being rumoured on the block during the draft in 2 weeks. One name that I am interested to see what happens with is Anthony Beauville and Ilya Mikheyev. I am not reporting anything, just two players that might have some more upside for teams inquiring and could get the Canucks a decent return in either another 3rd pairing D-man or a 3rd line center that might be on a less-than-friendly deal.

Below is a trade idea that could make sense and show how the Canucks could make some space by selling high on the last half of the season that Beauvillier had.

To Canucks

Matthew Benning – $1,250,000 Expires end of 2025-26

To San Jose

Anthony Beauvillier – $4,150,000 Expires end of 2023-24

This would give the Canucks more Right Hand Defensemen depth and give Patrik Allvin and Co. $2,215,658 to find a UFA Right Handed 3rd Line Center.

To get this done, you might need to add a sweetener of a 3rd rounder, but this could also help the Sharks with a player that can be their focus while they continue their rebuild.

Option Two: Buying Out Contracts

The second option discussed is buying out contracts, and I am sure the fanbase is tired of hearing about this. Still, as the first buyout window has opened, we need to discuss buying out Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

As you can see above, the savings this year and next would allow the major surgery needed to make this team a contender, but we would be hurting our future. This option makes the most sense to me and should be what the Canucks do. Our owners want to balance the books and be competitive, and this is the way to do it. It’s been eight years since the team had a home playoff game, and if we want to be a serious contender with this core, this is how you do it.