NHL Free Agency Rumors: Insider Reveals Latest on Pius Suter's Future With Canucks

Pius Suter picked a good time to have a career season. The perennial bottom-six center was wrapping up a two-year, $1.6 million AAV deal this season with the Vancouver Canucks, having been a consistent 14-goal, 25-point man and a solid two-way centerman during his first four NHL seasons. But heading into his unrestricted free agency this summer, he absolutely exploded with 25 goals and 46 points this year while playing a career-high 17:21 of ice time per night.

In addition to positioning himself for a huge raise (he'll likely more than triple his paycheck), he has almost certainly priced himself out of Vancouver. Insider Elliotte Friedman reported on his 32 Thoughts podcast on Friday that the 29-year-old center is pretty much finished in B.C.

Everybody knows that they're apart (in contract talks) on Suter. What the market looks like it can do for Suter, Vancouver doesn't want to go there.

AFP Analytics, who specialize in contract projections for free agents, forecasts Suter to land a four-year deal worth just a few dollars under $5 million annually.

Sportsnet 650's Bik Nizzar said on The People's Show podcast that he wouldn't want to see the Canucks go north of $4.5 million on Suter.

🗣 The number I've come to for Pius Suter is 4.5... The question becomes is your second line C a higher price whose job is to be the stopper?

👉 @BikNizzar talks about whether the Canucks should re-sign Pius Suter.
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) June 11, 2025

"The number I've come to for Pius Suter is $4.5... What role makes sense for him? I'm not sure I'm paying him $4.5M, and (saying) 'Ok, our top six is sorted out.' You still need that fixed. So... Is it a third-line role that's offensive-based?

The Canucks have a minimal $12.5 million available in cap space this summer, so not a lot to work with.

Pius Suter to have robust market and receive huge raise in free agency

As for Suter's market, it's likely pretty robust, as there is simply not a lot of help down in the middle in this year's crop of UFAs that teams have a realistic chance of signing. One, Brock Nelson, was already taken off the table. The other three top names, Florida's Sam Bennett, Toronto's John Tavares, and Dallas's Matt Duchene, are all thought to be leaning heavily toward re-signing with their incumbent teams.

After that, the UFA list at center is Mikael Granlund (also likely to re-sign with Dallas), Claude Giroux (close to re-signing with Ottawa), and.... Suter.

The Canucks' breakout pivot is about to be rewarded handsomely by some team... It's just not likey to be the Canucks.