Report: Canucks Are Front-Runners For Jay Beagle

The Canucks are one step closer to bolstering their centre ice depth, rumoured as the front-runners for the services of Jay Beagle.

Beagle was leaned on by the Stanley Cup-winning Capitals to win key face-offs, kill penalties and centre the 4th line. He provides coveted intangibles including grit, but the merit of Vancouver’s interest should be questioned given that they already have a similar pivot in Brandon Sutter.

Moreover, Beagle turns 33 in October and is rumoured to be seeking a multi-year deal driven by recency bias.

A contract of this mould would be a head-scratcher to say the least. Perhaps this deal would portend a Sutter trade, though that seems unlikely with how valuable he’s perceived by this management group.

Beagle finished the season registering just 22 points in 79 games.