3 Canucks Entering Their Final Year With The Team

The Vancouver Canucks have a very important season ahead of them. They must do well to get back to being contenders and to somehow convince Quinn Hughes to stay. Whether the team does well or not, they are in for some changes to get much better the season after, but they will have to get creative and aggressive. So here are three of the Canucks players who are entering their final year with the team.

Evander Kane

Evander Kane is only likely to spend one year in Vancouver. Centers are needed much more than wingers and he didn't choose to play in Vancouver, so he could either be a trade deadline move or walk in free agency and have his choice of teams. Getting free of his over $5 million AAV cap hit will be big in acquiring a center that they need, even though Kane should provide some good play for the team this season.

Vitaly Kravtsov

Vitaly Kravtsov signed back with the Canucks after a year over in the KHL where he did very well. It opened the door back up and he should have a place in the NHL on the team. His confidence should be very high, but if he doesn't get the proper opportunity or doesn't perform as expected, a trade could happen, waivers could come into play, and then at the very least, he won't be back with Vancouver if he chooses to stay in North America. He has always had the potential, but the opportunity has to be right.

Teddy Blueger

If the Canucks are going to upgrade their center ice position, they are going to have to clear someone out. The easiest and most logical would be Teddy Blueger after the season as he is headed into the final year of his deal. He should play third line center this season, but will likely have to play up a line or two if Elias Pettersson or Filip Chytil miss any time. It may be too much for him to handle, but his $1.8 million AAV cap hit will help a little bit in being allocated to a 2C or true 3C.