On July 1, the Vancouver Canucks and Brock Boeser agreed to a seven-year extension worth $50.75 million. The new deal will keep the 28-year-old in Vancouver for potentially his entire career, as Boeser has been with the organization since 2015 when they drafted him 23rd overall. Ultimately, this is contract is a big win for not just the Canucks and Boeser, but also the fan base, as they have been sharing their excitement on social media since the deal was announced.
Boeser re-signing with Vancouver was a surprising moment, as most reports indicated that he would be playing somewhere else next season. The Canucks attempted to trade him at the deadline, while many insiders over the past few weeks reported that Boeser signing an extension was a long shot. In the end, though, the two sides were able to come to an agreement, keeping Boeser in Vancouver for the next seven years.
"Knowing my head, I think I was fully set on going somewhere else," said Boeser. "So I had kind of a list of teams in my head that I thought maybe would be good fits. And then, you know, I just still was kind of uneasy about everything. And then they called and, at the end of the day, I think my heart was still in Vancouver, and I have so much faith. Our team and the pieces that we have. I think, and (Adam) Foote too. I think he's going to be a great head coach. So, I think everything just lined up well, and I'm just super stoked to be back."
BREAKING: Brock Boeser Re-Signs Long-Term With Vancouver Canucks
The Brock Boeser era is officially back on the table for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks">Vancouver Canucks</a>, as the forward has signed a seven-year, $7.25M AAV contract with the<b> </b>team. This comes after a long season of speculation that Boeser would not be remaining with the team after 2024–25, including a trade deadline that nearly saw the decade-long Canuck depart from the team.
Overall, July 1 was a stressful day for Boeser. He had offers from teams around the league and was trying to decide what organization would be the best fit. As Boeser explained, he was also receiving numerous messages from his Canucks teammates, who were trying to convince him to stay in Vancouver.
"I think I was actually at the gym. I thought, I don't know why. I thought I'd be able to maybe train and work out. I ended up not even working out, and had to leave because I was on the phone the whole time. But, yeah, we were sitting there, we were talking, and I was talking to Ben (Hankinson), just kind of going over everything. Just kept trying to get an idea of what could happen, and whatever. And then he said, Patrick (Allvin) was calling him, and that kind of raised my eyebrows. I was like, Okay, maybe we can figure something out here. And then they kind of went back and forth a little bit, and we found some common ground. And, you know, I had other guys in my ears, like Gars (Conor Garland) and Demmer (Thatcher Demko) and all those guys kind of pushing my buns to come back too. So it obviously plays a big part to have such good friends and have belief within the guys in the room."
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As mentioned, these negotiations were anything but simple. The two sides were unable to come to terms during the season, and all signs pointed to Boeser leaving on July 1. All that changed, however, with one phone call as GM Patrik Allvin and Ben Hankinson were able to hammer out a deal on Tuesday.
"I think there's a few times that we talked with the Canucks and the door was still open there. It felt like the door shut a couple of times there. So I really had to wrap my head around moving on. And then obviously trying to get a sense in my head, what might be a good fit and all that. So there's so many things going through my head, and that's why I said my head was spinning a lot, and it was. It was hard to kind of grasp. That phone call kind of came out of nowhere. So it was definitely a shock to me. But the way I felt when that phone call came is, like, I told my agent, I was like, get a deal done, and we then made some work. I didn't even know if Patrick was calling to get a deal done. He was just calling Hank, and I was just assuming that was it. So, you know, I'm really happy that he did."
With Boeser signed for seven seasons, the Canucks now have 10 main roster players with at least three years left on their current contracts. This should allow Vancouver to build some chemistry and have an idea of what the roster will look like over the next few years. According to Boeser, having this many players signed for the next few seasons also shows a commitment to the organization and desire from his teammates to build something special moving forward.
General Manager Patrik Allvin Breaks Down Why The Vancouver Canucks Re-Signed Thatcher Demko, Conor Garland & Brock Boeser
The Vancouver Canucks had an interesting start to free agency on Tuesday. After locking up Thatcher Demko and Conor Garland to contracts a year before they became unrestricted free agents, the Canucks agreed to terms with Brock Boeser on a seven-year deal. Ultimately, Vancouver elected to keep the majority of last year's team together, with the only major change being the addition of Evander Kane and subtraction of Pius Suter.
"I think it means a lot. And that's one of the reasons why I wanted to as well. I think we got great pieces locked up for a while. And, I think that's really important. I think it's good for guys coming together and being a team and playing together and just sacrificing out on the ice for each other. So it's something that gets me really excited, and that's why I'm super happy to be back."
Lastly, as mentioned, re-signing Boeser was a popular move amongst the fan base. Over the last decade, he has become a fan favourite both on and off the ice. As Boeser explained, he appreciates all the support Canucks fans have given him during his career and looks forward to creating more memories in the future.
"It means a lot. Like I've said so many times, they've been so supportive of me. Not just with hockey, but away from the rink, and that means the world to me. Everyone's so kind outside. When you're just out and about, and people say, Hi, everyone, so kind and respectful. And it means a lot to me. And I've said many times, Vancouver feels like my second home. And you know, it's just so comfortable and I love it there, so maybe I can get a house there.
Based on his comments, it is clear that Boeser never wanted to leave Vancouver. Now with his new seven-year contract, the 28-year-old has the chance to do what few others have and play his entire career with the Canucks. In the end, this deal is a significant win for both the organization and Boeser, as it has the potential to become one of the best-valued contracts in the NHL.
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