If the Vancouver Canucks are looking to add speed to their lineup, they needn’t look any further than Mikkel Boedker. The Danish winger is heading to unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career and could be theirs for the taking. 

Boedker has failed to live up to the lofty expectations that come with being selected eighth overall – as he was in the 2008 draft by the Phoenix Coyotes – but he’s an intriguing option to provide secondary offence from a team’s middle-six. The Colorado Avalanche, who acquired Boedker at the February 29th trade deadline, got just that, as he contributed 12 points (11 at even strength) in just 18 games in the Mile High City. 

The problem with Boedker isn’t so much whether he’s value added to the middle of your lineup, but whether that’s reflected in his contract demands. Reports abound in advance of the deadline that Boedker turned down an extension from the Coyotes valued at $5-million-plus annually. Boedker’s camp is now looking at securing $5.5-million at the very least, on a new long-term deal on the open market.

Should the Canucks throw their name into the hat for his services? 

The Canucks have placed a premium on speed for as long as Jim Benning has been the club’s general manager. They’ll get no shortage of that with Boedker. Though I’ve only the six games of Coyotes data to draw from, Boedker was second only to Anthony Duclair in controlled entries per-sixty — Boedker carried the puck in 17.8 times per sixty to Duclair’s 18.1. Boedker only suffered a failed entry rate of 11.9% over that span, which indicates he did a good job of protecting the puck in transition, too.

Vancouver hasn’t many openings in their lineup, which presents a problem for adding bodies on the wing. If the Canucks can rid themselves of Chris Higgins or Alexandre Burrows (maybe even both) by trade or buyout, that opens a spot or two on the wing. At that stage though the Canucks have to be wary of how they spend their limited resources.

If the Canucks goal is to make the playoffs they’ll likely have to think bigger than Boedker. They can certainly use his help in transition and on the power play, but that’s not enough compared to alternative options on the open market. That said, Boedker, who entered the league as a 19-year-old, is only 26-years-old and as such one of the younger players set for market. For the Canucks, who are looking to add to their pool of talent between 25 and 30-years-old, there’s value in that.

Among the many shortcomings in Boedker’s game at even strength is his inability to suppress opposition offence. Boedker’s 2.95 SA60RelTm suggests the aggregate impact he has on his teammate’s ability to suppress shots was mostly negative. So too does Boedker’s -1.2% CF%RelTm indicate he struggled to help his linemates control meaningful puck possession.