logo
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Irfaan Gaffar talks Canucks’ interest in Lukas Reichel, recent NHL contracts, and more: Canucks Conversation
alt
Photo credit: Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Clarke Corsan
Oct 2, 2025, 17:30 EDTUpdated: Oct 2, 2025, 16:23 EDT
Comments
On Wednesday’s episode of Canucks Conversation, Irfaan Gaffar joined Harman Dayal and David Quadrelli to cover a mix of NHL topics – from recent big-ticket contracts to whether Lukas Reichel could be a fit in Vancouver.
The conversation started with Kirill Kaprizov’s new 8 year, $136 million contract, which Irf noted was another sign of how the market shifts when a superstar is involved.
“Kaprizov’s contract is massive. The landscape changes a bit if you’re a superstar; if you’re a guy that knows you can command that certain type of money and you have an owner who’s willing to do it, you’re going to get your money,” Irf said.
He contrasted that with Luke Hughes’ extension in New Jersey: “For a guy like Luke Hughes, it’s a bit different – he got his money, but I don’t know they would’ve given him any more than he got. The interesting part about Hughes’ contract is he has a modified no-trade list in year six and seven, so they could trade him at any point between now and then, not to say they will but just an interesting note.”
Irf added a story from Hughes’ early years with the Devils when Travis Green was on staff: “Travis Green, when he was assistant coach there, wanted Luke to run the power play, but someone said what would that say about our $9 million guy Dougie Hamilton — Dougie has to do it. Luke, all these years later, is now the $9 million dollar guy.”
The show then turned to Chicago’s Lukas Reichel, who looks like he could be on the move.
“Both the Blackhawks and Reichel want to move on from each other, and the Blackhawks should take whatever they can get,” Irf said. “Whether that’s a late 6th, 7th round pick for a guy who hasn’t really panned out in the NHL with 169 games played and only 54 points — but he’s also been on some really bad Blackhawks teams, where a lot of the numbers for most players on that team aren’t good. He’s a guy that’s young, relatively cheap, and he brings the Canucks a little more depth than what they have.”
Irf pointed out the question marks with Vancouver’s current forward group: “When you look at the Canucks, Bains is a great story – he does a lot of good things on and off the ice but is he an everyday NHLer? I’m not sold on that. Has Aatu Raty done enough to show us he’s an everyday guy? I’m not sold on him. Jonathan Lekkerimaki — has he done enough either? No. Not yet. Reichel’s got some games, he’s young enough, can play both wing and centre if you need. Cootes is going to be a player in the NHL, I don’t think we should rush and try and get him into the lineup opening night… at 18 years old, the jump from playing against preseason teams is going to be a lot different than October ninth when they take to the ice for the regular season.”
From Irf’s perspective, that makes Reichel a worthwhile gamble. “It’s a good flyer to take if you’re the Canucks, if it’s only going to cost you a sixth or seventh round pick, to go get a guy you can plug into the lineup, you go and take that shot.”
Harm agreed that with Nils Höglander sidelined, the opportunity is there: “Especially with Nils Hoglander out, I wouldn’t mind throwing a seventh round pick and seeing if Reichel can beat out a guy like Arshdeep Bains, who’s skating in their top six right now. And that’s the thing; if Bains is skating in the top six, you can’t look at this Canucks team and say they’re so loaded on talent that Reichel wouldn’t be worth the roll of the dice if he’s cheap.”
For Irf, the bigger issue is organizational depth up front. “When you look at this organization, the depth isn’t really there. It might be at defence and goalie, which does look great, but their forward depth they just don’t have it. They have a bunch of tweener NHL/AHL guys who you’re hoping can pan out and play in a bottom six role. If you can get a guy that’s going to be motivated – he’s 23 years old, was drafted 17th overall, so maybe a change of scenery and an organization willing to develop him at the NHL level, why not take that risk?”
Watch the full segment below!
Sponsored by bet365

Canucks Conversation

Shows

Breaking News