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According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, there is “real optimism” that the Vancouver Canucks will be able to come to an agreement with defenceman Tyler Myers on a contract extension.
Myers, 34, collected five goals and 29 points to go along with a plus-16 rating while averaging 18:56 of ice time in 77 games with the Canucks during the 2023-24 regular season. The 6’8″ defender added one assist in 12 playoff games with the club.
Friedman discussed Myers’ situation with Jeff Marek on Wednesday’s edition of 32 Thoughts – The Podcast:
Friedman: The other thing I wanted to mention about Vancouver was, there sure does seem to be, in the middle of everything that they’re trying to do, and I think they’ve got a lot of balls in the hopper, and I think they’re trying to really figure out exactly what’s going to happen here and what they’re going to be able to do and what they’re going to have to do to be able to do it. But there seems to be some real optimism that they’re going to be able to work out something with Tyler Myers. I think he likes it there and I think they want to keep him, and that usually means there is a way to get it done. We will see.
The Canucks originally signed Myers in 2019 to a five-year deal worth $6 million per season. Then-Canucks GM Jim Benning was widely criticized at the time for agreeing to the contract, and Myers struggled to find his game at times over his first few seasons in Vancouver.
Under current head coach Rick Tocchet, Myers managed to settle into a nice groove as the Canucks’ second-pairing right-handed defenceman for much of last season. He posted his best statistical season as a Canuck despite averaging less than 20 minutes a game for the first time in his NHL career.
The Buffalo Sabres originally selected Myers in the first round (No. 12 overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft. The Houston, Texas product has appeared in 995 career games over parts of 15 seasons with the Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, and Canucks, collecting 93 goals and 371 points; he’s added seven goals and 16 points in 61 playoff contests.
The Canucks finished the 2023-24 season with the top record in the Pacific Division before advancing to the second round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, ultimately falling to the Edmonton Oilers in seven games.
