The Anaheim Ducks are trying to move Frank Vatrano’s contract, and the Vancouver Canucks at least checked in. But for Vancouver, the math still comes back to the same place: money in, money out.
Rick Dhaliwal said on the Oilers Now show that the Ducks may need to attach sweeteners to get a deal done.
“Ducks are going to have to add sweeteners to get rid of players. Someone told me today Ducks called Canucks to see if they would take Vatrano off their hands…But again Vancouver is money in, money out. Budget is tight.”
Dhaliwal also made clear the Canucks’ spending picture hasn’t changed.
“Money is tight right now. They aren’t going to overspend…Anything in Vancouver is money out, money in. Owner is going into a rebuild, so he’s saying money is tight.”
There’s another wrinkle here, too. Vatrano has deferred money attached to the contract, and that’s not the kind of structure Vancouver ownership is eager to take on. As Taj noted, there is no way the Canucks ownership are going to want to pay it.
From PuckPedia: “3 million per year is deferred salary to be paid out at 900K per year for 10 years beginning in 2035.”
Elsewhere in the rumor mill, Shane Wright’s situation in Seattle is drawing plenty of attention. Mike Gould of Daily Faceoff reported that the Kraken and Wright’s agent are looking for a new home for the 22-year-old center, who dropped from 44 points two years ago to 27 last year. Seattle is said to be seeking fair market value for him, and Gould laid out five possible landing spots.
Calgary Flames could be in the mix if they’re hunting for a center that fits their trajectory. If Seattle wants an NHL roster player back, Connor Zary or Morgan Frost could make sense.
Chicago Blackhawks have the draft capital to work with, including three 2027 first-round picks, though they may not want to part with major assets.
New Jersey Devils already made a run at a young center in Barrett Hayton, with the Mammoth matching the offer sheet, and they picked up future first-rounders in the Simon Nemec trade. Wright would give them added depth.
Pittsburgh Penguins, with Kyle Dubas looking to buy low on young, skilled players, may not have a roster player to send back, but they do have seven second-round picks over the next three drafts.
Toronto Maple Leafs added plenty of depth in free agency, but they still don’t have many young centers in the organization. Their only first-round pick in the next two drafts is the Colorado Avalanche’s 2027 first-rounder.
In Other News...
Ducks Just Faced Their Biggest Young Core Decision Yet
The Ducks have spent much of this offseason trying to turn a promising young roster into something more durable, and the latest bit of business came with real stakes for the long term. Anaheim had a decision to make on restricted free-agent center Leo Carlsson, one of the most important pieces in the organizations next core, after Philadelphia stepped in with an offer sheet that forced the issue.
For a team trying to build around its youth, this was never just about one contract. The Ducks had to weigh the value of keeping a high-end center in place against the broader ripple effects of an offer sheet, including how it would shape their future flexibility and the message it sent about protecting their own talent. One important wrinkle in the agreement also stands out, with a no-movement clause attached for the final year, a detail that underscores how much leverage comes with a player Anaheim clearly views as central to what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Verbeek May Have Backed The Ducks Into A Brutal Corner
The Ducks had to match an offer sheet to keep Leo Carlsson in Anaheim, a move that says as much about the market as it does about their own planning. What should have been a straightforward extension for a cornerstone young center turned into another reminder of how quickly leverage can shift when negotiations linger and the price of waiting keeps climbing.
For Pat Verbeek, the problem is bigger than one contract. Anaheim still has other young players due for new deals, and the clubs cap room is already under pressure after a series of delays and a defense that looks thinner than it should for a team trying to climb back into relevance. The Ducks can survive one expensive correction, but the next round of negotiations may be where the real squeeze begins. [Read more 🡒]