NHL free agency is here, but for the Vancouver Canucks this looks less like a spending spree and more like a careful shopping trip.
That’s the lane Ryan Johnson appears to be working in: add the right people, not just the loudest names. The Canucks need high-character veterans who can steady a young group, especially on defence, while also bringing some bite to a roster rebuild that still needs more physical edge.
Even the players who fit that mould are not coming cheap.
Among the centres linked to Vancouver, Elliotte Friedman has mentioned Noel Acciari, Erik Haula, Boone Jenner, Scott Laughton, Colton Sissons and Kevin Stenlund. That’s a useful list for a team looking for size, experience and some dependable middle-of-the-lineup work.
On the blue line, Friedman also floated the San Jose Sharks as a possible landing spot for Ian Cole, although a source told me the Canucks still believe he is very close to signing in Vancouver. CHEK-TV’s Rick Dhaliwal had also suggested Monday that a deal was possible. Vancouver does need veteran stability back there, and Cole is coming off an outstanding season with Utah.
He also comes with a reputation that matters in a room like this: he’s known as the definition of a good dude, has dealt with injuries almost constantly since turning pro in 2017, and has long been described as a quality person who never complains.
One option who would have checked several boxes for the Canucks is already gone. A.J.
Greer, a possible unrestricted free agent target for size, toughness and defensive structure, signed a four-year deal with the Anaheim Ducks carrying a $4.25 million annual average value. Greer, 29, made $850,000 this season before Florida traded his rights Monday, and he was a fixture in the Panthers’ top six.
He used his size, speed and bravado to disrupt on the forecheck while still staying responsible defensively. He finished with a team-best plus-14, led Florida with 203 hits and 113 penalty minutes, and fought tough guys six times.
His rights were traded for the rights to Radko Gudas.
Another name still available is Kevin Stenlund, the 29-year-old centre from the Utah Mammoth. He led the club in faceoff percentage at 54.2 per cent, as well as shot blocks with 61 and short-handed ice time. He would bring structure, guidance and penalty-killing help, and his expiring cap hit is $2 million.
In Other News...
Former Flames Forward Dillon Dube Just Took An Unexpected NHL Step
Dillon Dubes return to the NHL keeps taking shape after a season spent with Springfield in the AHL, where the former Flames forward worked to rebuild his game and his standing in pro hockey. The 27-year-old has already logged time with Calgary and overseas with Dinamo Minsk, so this latest move is another notable turn for a player whose career path has been anything but ordinary.
For Calgary fans, Dubes name still carries some familiarity because of what he once was in a Flames sweater and the promise he showed earlier in his career. Now he gets a fresh chance on a one-year, one-way deal worth $850,000, a reminder that there is still a market for him at the highest level as he tries to establish where he fits next. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Development Camp Roster Just Raised Excitement And One Concern
The Flames 2026 development camp roster is in, and it gives a clearer look at the organizations next wave. Calgary is bringing in a smaller group than it has in past years, with the focus narrowed to its own prospects across forwards, defensemen and goalies, plus a few players slated for the 2025-26 season in different leagues. It is the kind of list that usually gets attention for both who is on it and who is still climbing toward it, especially with the camp built around drafted and undrafted talent the front office wants to evaluate up close.
Among the names drawing the most interest are the clubs top 2026 picks, including Carson Carels, Jack Hextall, Chase Harrington and Tobias Trejbal. There is also a local wrinkle in Kent Anderson, a Calgary product who will be with the AHL Wranglers next season, adding a little extra hometown flavor to the group. The one concern in the announcement is the absence of an injured player from on-ice sessions, a reminder that even a prospect camp can be shaped by health before anyone has a chance to make an impression. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Just Added More Competition Than Fans Might Expect
The Flames added a batch of familiar depth on two-way NHL contracts, bringing in Ben Jones, Jake Livingstone, Mike Benning and Andreas Englund as the organization continues to stock up around the edges of the roster. Jones is the most recognizable name for Calgary fans, since he is back in the system after stops with Minnesota and Iowa, while Livingstone and Benning are both getting one-year looks after recent NHL and AHL experience.
Englund gives the group a different kind of resume as a veteran with 200 NHL games behind him, and the mix suggests Calgary is trying to create real competition at multiple levels heading into camp. The interesting part now is how these additions sort themselves out once the lineup battles begin, especially with several players arriving on deals that keep the door open for both the NHL club and the farm team. [Read more 🡒]