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6 UFAs still on the market the Canucks could still sign before training camp

Photo credit: © David Kirouac-Imagn Images

By Jeffrey Kennett

Aug 27, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 26, 2026, 21:41 EDT

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The Vancouver Canucks may not be done adding to their roster.

On Wednesday, Postmedia’s Patrick Johnston spoke with Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson about how Vancouver has nothing it needs to accomplish before training camp opens, but the club will continue exploring the market.

“You never stop listening, or talking, to teams. But there’s no definitive ‘must get done’ between now and Sept. 16, but you’re always looking at opportunities. You’re just making sure you’re looking at every avenue,” Johnson said.

“I am looking … not in the sense of trying to solve a problem, maybe some insurance, some coverage, or maybe something that supports us,” he added. “I’m happy right now with the competition, with the groups of players that would be there right now.”

There is certainly room in the budget on paper. PuckPedia projects Vancouver with $17.8 million in cap space, although its 23-man roster is already full. Any addition would therefore have to offer enough upside to justify taking an opportunity away from somebody already in the organization.

Fortunately for Johnson, some legitimate NHL talent remains unsigned.

Daily Faceoff’s latest UFA board still includes five players who ranked among the top 30 unrestricted free agents entering July 1, along with several intriguing names further down the list.

Patrik Laine

Patrik Laine probably has the biggest potential upside left on the market.

Ranked 14th among Daily Faceoff’s UFAs this summer, Laine is the highest-ranked player who remains unsigned. Injuries limited the 28-year-old to five games and one point last season, making him a difficult player to price.

The attraction is obvious when the Finnish forward is healthy. Laine is a former second overall pick who scored 20 goals in 52 games in 2024-25 and remains one of the league’s most dangerous power play shooters. Daily Faceoff found that his 4.49 power play goals per 60 minutes since returning to Montreal led every NHL player with at least 100 minutes over that span.

For Vancouver, that could be a valuable weapon alongside Marco Rossi on the power play, while also giving Laine a chance to restore his value on a short-term deal.

Eeli Tolvanen

Eeli Tolvanen is another Finnish forward, and while he may be less exciting, he fits slightly better into the age profile of Vancouver’s roster.

The 27-year-old recorded 12 goals and 36 points in 78 games with the Seattle Kraken last season after scoring a career-high 23 goals the year before. He also brings a physical element and owns a shot that Daily Faceoff ranked in the 92nd percentile for power.

Tolvanen was No. 26 on Daily Faceoff’s July 1 UFA board. At his age, there is at least a possibility that a one-year deal becomes something longer if he fits with the Canucks.

Vladimir Tarasenko

If Johnson prioritizes pedigree, Vladimir Tarasenko would be difficult to overlook.

A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Tarasenko scored 23 goals and 47 points in 75 games with the Minnesota Wild last season despite averaging less than 15 minutes per game. He has 327 goals and 709 points across 906 career games and won championships with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 and Florida Panthers in 2024.

At 34, the Russian forward would be a short-term addition, which could suit Vancouver perfectly. Daily Faceoff recently ranked him as the second-best bargain remaining in free agency and suggested his price could now fall below $2 million.

He could provide scoring, experience, and another potential trade asset without blocking a younger player for multiple seasons.

Michael Bunting

Michael Bunting finished with 14 goals and 33 points in 74 games between Nashville and Dallas last season. Daily Faceoff ranked him fourth among the best bargains still available.

His production has dropped from the player who scored 23 goals and 63 points with Toronto in 2021-22, but the 30-year-old remains an agitating middle-six winger with a history of playing alongside skilled forwards.

Bunting has changed teams at each of the past three trade deadlines, and his falling price could make him an inexpensive bet for a Canucks team capable of giving him minutes and moving him again if he rebuilds his value.

Nick Blankenburg

Nick Blankenburg does not have Tarasenko’s or Laine’s name recognition, but he might be one of the best players available for the price.

The 28-year-old right-shot defenceman finished with eight goals and 24 points in 61 games split between Nashville and Colorado last season. Daily Faceoff ranked Blankenburg as the best bargain remaining on the market, crediting his puck movement, two-way game, and the fact that he is still in his prime.

Vancouver already has Filip Hronek, Luke Schenn, Tom Willander and Victor Mancini competing on the right side, so opportunity is the obvious concern. Still, Blankenburg is productive and young enough to warrant consideration beyond simply being “veteran insurance.”

Logan Stanley and the veteran alternatives

Logan Stanley is the other notable defenceman. The 28-year-old set career highs with nine goals, 17 assists and 26 points in 76 games last season and entered July ranked 19th on Daily Faceoff’s UFA board. At 6-foot-7, he offers a different profile from Vancouver’s current blueline makeup.

There is also plenty of pure experience left on the market. Reilly Smith won the Stanley Cup with Vegas in 2023, David Perron won with St. Louis in 2019, while James van Riemsdyk has logged more than 1,100 NHL games. John Klingberg, Adam Henrique, and Jonathan Drouin remain unsigned as well.

Johnson has already added Brendan Gallagher, Jamie Oleksiak, and Schenn this summer, so as he told PJ, Vancouver does not have to chase experience just to add someone and potentially take precious playing time away from some of their young players. But the more interesting opportunity could be finding somebody the market has undervalued, then flipping them for futures at the upcoming trade deadline.

With September approaching and asking prices continuing to fall, the Canucks can afford to see whether one of them becomes too good an opportunity to pass up.

What do you think, Canucks fans? Do you want to see the Canucks bring any of these UFAs in? Let us know in the comments below!

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