Contract negotiations with the Vancouver Canucks are not going as Brock Boeser had hoped.
Speaking with Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre on Thursday, the longtime Canucks forward and pending unrestricted free agent indicated that a contract extension with the club is doubtful, a situation that he described as unfortunate.
“Honestly, it’s unlikely at this point,” Boeser told MacIntyre. “It sucks, it’s unfortunate. I’m just trying to play good hockey, and then I’ll worry about everything after that. We all know it’s been a rollercoaster of a year. There’s been a lot of different things.
“I’m refusing to talk to [agent Ben Hankinson] right now. I feel like I’m playing a lot better hockey recently, and I don’t want to get distracted. That’s one of the things I’ve learned: when there’s distractions, I don’t play my best hockey. The mental aspect of the game is so important. This year, there’s been a lot of distractions.”
Through 71 showings with the Canucks this season, the 28-year-old Minnesotan has tallied 25 goals and 24 assists for 49 points, solid production but undoubtedly a downturn from his career-high 73 points in 2023-24.
Add in the up-and-down season in Vancouver – the club was eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoffs contention on Wednesday – plus Boeser’s soon-to-expire contract, and his name circled the rumor mill ahead of the NHL trade deadline last month. But to Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin, none of the light offers for the talented right winger were worthy of consideration.
“If I told you what I was offered for Boeser, I think I would have to run out of here because you would not believe me,” Allvin said following the March 7 deadline. “I would imagine that Brock is extremely hungry to finish off strong here and then prove that he’s a good player in this league, and we’ll continue to talk [about a new contract].”
Originally chosen 23rd overall by Vancouver in the 2015 NHL Draft, Boeser has since skated in 550 career contests with the Canucks in which he has collected 204 goals and 229 assists for 433 points.