Vancouver Canucks wingers Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk were fixtures in last season's rumor mill, a trend that will likely continue as the club rebuilds with younger talent.
As the Vancouver Canucks imploded last season, trade speculation dogged Brock Boeser and Jake DeBrusk.
While the two scoring forwards remain with the rebuilding Canucks this season, they’re likely to be fixtures again in the rumor mill.
TSN’s Travis Yost believes Boeser will remain a trade candidate this season. Despite the 29-year-old winger’s declining production since his career-high of 40 goals and 73 assists in 2023-24, Yost believes he’s a better player than his recent stats suggest.
Boeser’s performance could improve with a deeper club where he’d have better linemates. Yost acknowledged that the winger’s best seasons may be behind him, but felt it worthwhile for the Canucks to move him while his value remains high.
Signed through 2031-32, Boeser carries an average annual value of $7.25 million and a full no-movement clause. If he’s willing to waive that clause, teams that need scoring could pursue him in the trade market.
The Seattle Kraken could be among them. They attempted to acquire Artemi Panarin and Jason Robertson earlier this season, and Boeser wouldn’t have to travel very far to join them. The New York Rangers could be a trade-deadline destination once they have accrued sufficient cap room.
Meanwhile, DeBrusk is signed through 2030-31 with a $5.5 million AAV. Like Boeser, he has a full NMC. Nevertheless, the 29-year-old winger indicated earlier this year that playing on a rebuilding team would be difficult to accept at this stage of his career.
Thomas Drance of The Athletic believes DeBrusk’s trade value suffered because he struggled to score at five-on-five last season. While he tallied 23 goals, Drance noted that only three came at even strength.
Drance believes DeBrusk is a better scorer at 5-on-5 than last season’s totals suggest. An improvement in his even-strength production should bolster his trade value, especially around the March trade deadline when playoff contenders seek experienced scorers.
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