We blinked, and the 2026 NHL Draft is behind us, and free agency officially kicks off tomorrow. Although, it doesn’t project to be as exciting as we’re used to seeing – at least, on the actual free agency front. It could very well be active in the trade market, but given the weak free-agent pool, signings will be far less impactful.

Following the Nils Höglander and Brendan Gallagher trades, Ryan Johnson met with the media and highlighted certain traits he is going to be searching for on July 1:

This type of player shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering the type of players the Vancouver Canucks drafted in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Role definition was also a talking point for Johnson regarding roster construction. Whoever the Canucks bring in this offseason will be brought in for a specific role, have a clear understanding of their expectations in that role, and that’s likely how this regime will judge them aside from the wins and losses.

We haven’t been told specifically what roles Johnson and Co. are looking for. However, based on the player types he said he preferred – size, speed, and character – we’ve come up with a list of four forwards and three defencemen who fit that bill that we could see the Canucks target tomorrow.

Jenner, 33, has the complete package for what Johnson is looking for. He’s a 6’2″, 204-lb left-shot centre who can also play the wing. In just his third season in the NHL, Jenner earned an A on his sweater and was named Captain in 2021-22, serving in that role for the last five years. And in 2025-26, ranked in the 52nd percentile in top speed burst around the league. All of this, on top of still solid production, having averaged over 0.55 points per game.

Contract-wise, Jenner has been earning $3.75 million annually over the last eight years, split between two separate contracts. With a rising salary cap and hitting the free agent market for the first time in his career, Jenner likely wants to cash in on what may be his last chance to cash in big. And having played in Columbus throughout his career, he likely wants a shot at winning.

So, coming to a rebuilding Vancouver squad, who by all reports are on a budget this season, may not be his first choice of destination, even though he perfectly matches what Johnson is looking for.

Laughton, 32, has traits very similar to Jenner’s; he just packs a little less of an offensive punch. Standing at 6’1″, 190 lbs, the centreman scored 13 goals and 20 points in 63 games split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings. Laughton ranked in the 55th percentile in top speed burst and brings a leadership side to his game, having served as an assistant captain for three seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers.

In a very weak centre market, where Laughton is among the top of the free agent class, Laughton should earn a decent raise of his $3 million AAV salary from his last contract. Laughton will likely have contenders lining up for his services come July 1, so Vancouver may not be in the running. But don’t be shocked to hear that the Canucks were interested in Laughton before he signed elsewhere.

This is a name that has been linked to the Canucks for a bit, and the fit makes sense. Sissons is a 6’2″, 201-lb right-shot centreman who’s a bottom-six fixture in any lineup. As a result, he isn’t much of a point producer, having scored just six goals and 11 points in 66 games this season, but his defensive impact has kept him in the NHL for 12 years.

Sissons is among the league’s best in speed score, ranking in the 84th percentile last season. The 32-year-old North Vancouver native earned an unprecedented seven-year contract for a bottom-six player. So, he must be well-liked enough in the locker room to be kept around for so long.

After getting his second taste of the Stanley Cup Finals last year, he would be an impactful player to guide and share his experiences on what it takes to win in this league with the young group of players.

Our second Vegas Golden Knight in a row, Cole Smith is a 6’3″, 194-lb winger who plays like a speedy, forechecking, energetic type of game. Smith ranks in the 94th percentile in top speed score. Point production doesn’t come easy for Smith, but his play away from the puck and on retrievals is what makes him an impact player. We can’t speak much to his leadership, but the size and speed element are at the top of the list of forwards.

Smith will surely be the most affordable for the Canucks. The 30-year-old has sub-300 NHL games under his belt and is coming off a two-year, $1 million AAV contract.

With the Canucks not qualifying RFA defenceman PO Joseph, and allowing Derek Forbort to walk to free agency, Johnson will be in business for a 6/7 depth defenceman for next season. Here are the three options that fit his build.

Lauzon, 29, is a 6’3″, 225-lb left-shot defenceman who, not too long ago, broke the NHL single-season hits record. At this stature, Lauzon still moves around well, ranking in the 83rd percentile in skating speed this season on the backend. He is likely in for a significant raise off of his $2 million AAV salary, but Lauzon has the profile of what this Canucks regime is searching for – that is, if he isn’t too expensive.

Cole, 37, is a 6’1″, 237-lb left-shot defenceman who is a familiar face around these parts. He spent the 2023-24 season in Vancouver, and once he left, many spoke about how his presence in the locker room was significantly missed. He can be the veteran blueline addition who brings leadership to help the young crop of players develop. The only thing he doesn’t bring is foot speed, but based on leadership alone, the Canucks should find value in a reunion.

I saved the best for last. Bogosian fits the size mould with a 6’2″, 223-lb frame as a right-shot defenceman, and has surprisingly good boots for a 35-year-old, ranking in the 63rd percentile in skating speed. But what is probably most important is how great he reportedly is in the locker room, especially with the young players.

In a conversation with Zeev Buium in January, Buium mentioned how tight he and Bogosian were when I asked why he chose to wear the No. 24.

“Well, we didn’t have too many options. Garly sent me a picture of a Rolex if I wanted No. 8,” Buium laughed. “I know Chris Chelios wore 24, obviously a huge fan of his, and I was with Zach Bogosian, like right before I got traded, and he wears 24 – we were pretty tight. I just thought it’d be pretty funny and cool to have it, and he appreciated it too.”

Surrounding your more promising defenceman with one of the veterans he knows best could be arguably the most valuable option in free agency for what Bogosian brings to a locker room. At this point of his career, Bogosian would wear the seventh defenceman role and be fine with sitting out every so often.

What do you think, Canucks fans? Which of these seven players would you like to see the Canucks sign? Let us know in the comments below!