<p>Happy Canada Day, and welcome to the CanucksArmy free agency live blog!</p>
<p>Jim Rutherford, Patrick Allvin and the rest of the Canucks&#8217; front office have been planning for July 1 from the moment the season ended in Game 7 against the Edmonton Oilers. And they know as well as anybody that simply &#8220;running it back&#8221; won&#8217;t be enough to push the Canucks to the next level.</p>
<p>A lot of the Canucks&#8217; intended free agent targets are already gone, including Jake Guentzel heading to Tampa Bay and Sam Reinhart returning to Florida. So Allvin &amp; Co. will have to pivot and find a different way to secure a new linemate for Elias Pettersson, upgrade the blue line and refill the depth pool. Last season&#8217;s signings were all key contributors to the team&#8217;s success in 2023-24. Can the Canucks recapture that magic a second time today?</p>
<p>Throughout the day I&#8217;ll be updating this page with the biggest rumours, stories and signings from across the NHL, and how they might affect the Canucks plans overall. If you want to keep up with all the deals during your day off from work, make sure to bookmark this page and hit the refresh button often during the morning and afternoon!</p>
<p>Let the chaos begin!</p>
<hr />
<h3>1:20 &#8211; Canucks sign Vinny Desharnais</h3>
<p>Hold up we&#8217;ve got a late signing!</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenceman Vincent Desharnais on a 2-year contract with a $2M AAV.</p>
<p>&mdash; Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1807870321397321771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>My initial thoughts: I don&#8217;t really know if Vincent Desharnais solves much of anything for the Canucks. The team already has plenty of heavy defensive-minded options on the blue line, and opting for another one who&#8217;s 6-foot-7 without much offensive upside feels like a missed opportunity to add some more scoring punch or playmaking.</p>
<p>At a cost of $2 million AAV, Desharnais&#8217; deal certainly isn&#8217;t a backbreaker, but it&#8217;s also more than I would&#8217;ve paid for a sixth or seventh defenseman.</p>
<h3>1:00 &#8211; Done for now!</h3>
<p>With the market near picked clean, it&#8217;s time to shut this live blog down. Thank you so much for following along today, be sure to check out the work by our CA staff as we go in-depth on all the newest Canucks before heading off on summer break! Enjoy your offseason!</p>
<h3>12:30 &#8211; Let&#8217;s look at some early winners and losers</h3>
<p>The contracts are slowing down to a crawl, so let&#8217;s go back and look at some earlier moves in the meantime.</p>
<p><strong>Winner: Nashville Predators</strong><br />
The Preds have had easily the biggest free agency day of any team, adding Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault <em>and </em>Brady Skeji in one fell swoop. Nashville learned their lesson from losing to the Canucks in the first round: if you can&#8217;t score, you aren&#8217;t winning. Now they&#8217;ve got some big time finishers and have essentially found a way to retool on the fly. They should be much better next season.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="et" dir="ltr">As reported earlier but now a done deal, Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei all agree to terms in Nashville.<br />Stamkos, 4 years x $8 M AAV<br />Marchessault, 5 years x $5.5 M AAV<br />Brady Skjei, 7 years x $7 M AAV</p>
<p>&mdash; Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) <a href="https://twitter.com/PierreVLeBrun/status/1807808834280599974?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><strong>Loser: Dallas Stars</strong><br />
For a team that made the Western Conference Final this year, the Stars sure haven&#8217;t made enough upgrades. Outside of re-signing Matt Duchene to a one-year deal, the Stars biggest move of the day was giving a three year deal to Casey DeSmith after Scott Wedgewood left for Nashville. The Stars are clearly banking on improvements from their existing roster, but I&#8217;m not so sure that&#8217;s in the cards.</p>
<p><strong>Winner: New Jersey Devils</strong><br />
After adding Jacob Markstrom and trading John Marino, the Devils have spent today bolstering their blue line by adding Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon. Last year the Devils Achilles&#8217; heel was their inability to keep the puck out of the net. Now a lot of close games that they lost in 2023-24 could flip in their favour this season.</p>
<p><strong>Loser: Vegas Golden Knights</strong><br />
How the turn tables. The Knights let Jonathan Marchessault walk assuming they&#8217;d be able to replace him with someone like Steven Stamkos. Instead both  players went to Nashville and Vegas has been caught holding the bag with only  Zach Aston-Reese and Tanner Laczynski to show for it. Just goes to show that if you&#8217;re running an organization as ruthless about transactions as Vegas, the bill eventually comes due.</p>
<h3>12:00 &#8211; Once again I am asking for a puck moving defenceman</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> still need some help on the blue line with Zadorov and Cole gone, particularly in the puck moving department. Adam Boqvist would fit that role well, as would Erik Brannstrom. Won&#39;t be surprised if the Canucks are looking at one of them.</p>
<p>&mdash; Lachlan Irvine (@LachInTheCrease) <a href="https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1807852045149548870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h3>11:20 &#8211; DeBrusk talking to the media as the market slows down</h3>
<p>The newest Vancouver Canuck spoke the media via Zoom at 11, and we&#8217;ll have more on his press conference later today. But in the meantime, DeBrusk spoke about his experience learning behind one of the NHL&#8217;s all time best two-way forwards.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jake DeBrusk talks about how much he&#39;s learned about the defensive side of the game and the PK from his time playing with Patrice Bergeron. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sportsnet650</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/BatchHockey/status/1807840859049844778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>With the rest of the NHL spending over $700 million in the first hour(!) of free agency, the market is running out of options fast. We&#8217;ll see how long we have to wait for a state of the union from Patrik Allvin.</p>
<h3>11:00 &#8211; Canucks add goalie Jiri Patera as Silovs insurance</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">General Manager Patrik Allvin announces that the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> have agreed to terms with goaltender Jiří Patera on a two-year, two-way contract.</p>
<p>&mdash; Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1807836095339811228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Folks, we have a goalie signing.</p>
<p>Jiri Patera has been in the Vegas Golden Knights system for the last four years, spending the vast majority of it with their farm team in Henderson. Patera has just eight games of NHL experience over the last two seasons (less than Arturs Silovs did entering the playoffs!) and will likely slot in as a third or fourth option for the Canucks with Silovs expected to take on the role of Thatcher Demko&#8217;s backup.</p>
<h3>10:40 &#8211; Where to go from here</h3>
<p>The Canucks don&#8217;t have a whole lot of cap space left to work with, but there&#8217;s still some needs they have to fill before October. The Canucks seem to have the forwards all locked up, but they could probably use at least one more puck-moving defender to round out the blue line. Perhaps an Erik Brannstrom or Adam Boqvist could fit that bill without breaking the bank.</p>
<h3>10:15 &#8211; Canucks add AHL depth in centre Nate Smith</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Actually saw a lot of Nate Smith at Minnesota State. He’s got an amazing set of hands, but they’ll almost certainly be put to work in Abbotsford <a href="https://t.co/i4bfjXqiCu">https://t.co/i4bfjXqiCu</a></p>
<p>&mdash; J.D. Burke (@JDylanBurke) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDylanBurke/status/1807826097528361091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>A rare signing that makes you say, &#8220;Who??&#8221;</p>
<p>Nate Smith has been in the Arizona Coyotes system for the last three years, save for a couple months with Team USA during the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Last season Smith had 31 points for the AHL&#8217;s Tucson Roadrunners but never got a sniff of NHL action. Odds are that will be the same case in Vancouver, but perhaps the 25 year old can find another gear in Abbotsford.</p>
<h3>10:00 &#8211; Forbort deal finalized</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenceman Derek Forbort on a 1-year contract worth $1.5M.</p>
<p>&mdash; Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1807820400526782688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Another strong bargain bin add for the Canucks. With Ian Cole heading to Utah for double the price, Forbort provides better value for what the Canucks are trying to accomplish by leaving more cap space for additional moves.</p>
<h3>9:30 &#8211; The Canucks have arrived</h3>
<p>Patrik Allvin is cooking.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with forward Jake DeBrusk on a 7-year contract with a $5.5M AAV.</p>
<p>&mdash; Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1807813504549925202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>This is a biiiiig swing by the Canucks. DeBrusk has been one of the Bruins&#8217; top forwards for quite some time, but was always Boston&#8217;s best &#8220;willing to trade for help&#8221; player as well. Seven years is a heck of a commitment for the Canucks to make for a Pettersson winger, but if things go according to plan it could end up looking like a bargain.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with forward Kiefer Sherwood on a 2-year contract with a $1.5M AAV.</p>
<p>&mdash; Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1807813861980217464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Kiefer Sherwood was a tough matchup for the Canucks in the playoffs, and now he brings his speed to a bottom six that&#8217;s sorely lacking it. Sherwood had 27 points with Nashville last season and knows how to play a physical checking role as well for a nice team friendly contract.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with forward Danton Heinen on a 2-year contract with a $2.25M AAV.</p>
<p>&mdash; Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1807814855593976146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>If there&#8217;s one common theme among these Canucks deals, it&#8217;s that they&#8217;re all hard to play against. Danton Heinen had 36 points with Boston last season and injects more strong skating into the depth chart. Heinen is able to make plays off the rush and take on bigger defensive responsibilities like the penalty kill. At $2.25 million the Canucks are paying right around market value for depth on the wings.</p>
<h3>9:15 &#8211; Derek Forbort, Vancouver Canuck?</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Derek Forbort to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a>, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@frank_seravalli</a> on the Daily Faceoff live stream</p>
<p>&mdash; Lachlan Irvine (@LachInTheCrease) <a href="https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1807809071162204489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Hey, I know that <del>insider</del> tv viewer!</p>
<p>Derek Forbort played 35 games for Boston last season and picked up four points in the process. Forbort will give the Canucks another depth defensive option, but one who&#8217;ll be more focused on a shutdown role than providing scoring. The term of the deal has not yet been announced.</p>
<h3>9:04 &#8211; OEL signs with Toronto</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">4 years at $3.5 mil per. OEL to Toronto.</p>
<p>&mdash; Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) <a href="https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/1807807153513632073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Quads told me my analysis can&#8217;t just be laughing for this contract, so I&#8217;ll try to play nice.</p>
<p>In fairness, OEL was quite good this past season with the Cup champion Panthers. But he was also on a cheap one year deal with zero pressure, whereas there&#8217;s going to be plenty in Toronto.</p>
<p>Never underestimate Brad Treliving&#8217;s love for former Canucks.</p>
<h3>9:00 &#8211; The market officially opens!</h3>
<p>The deals are going to come fast and furious now, so stay tuned as we find out which players are officially off the board.</p>
<h3>8:50 &#8211; Toffoli is San Jose bound</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tyler Toffoli&#39;s four-year deal with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SJSharks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SJSharks</a> carries a $6M AAV.</p>
<p>&mdash; Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) <a href="https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1807803892635181554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Tyler Toffoli has secured the bag in Northern California, taking the chance to play with Macklin Celebrini on the Sharks even if that means playing on a team that won&#8217;t be competing for the playoffs.</p>
<h3>8:22 &#8211; Friends to Enemies</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sounds like <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLBruins?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NHLBruins</a> have done a significant amount of legwork on both Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm as free agency opens.</p>
<p>&mdash; Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) <a href="https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1807795110874100107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>This is somehow the worst case scenario.</p>
<p>Lindholm going to the Bruins always made sense, but Zadorov too?! Talk about a profound betrayal. We knew the likelihood of either finding their way back to Vancouver was near zero, but we&#8217;ll see what the numbers look like when they come in.</p>
<h3>8:13 &#8211; Brandon Montour to Seattle</h3>
<p>Another defenseman is off the board, and he&#8217;s heading to the team down the I-5.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">All signs point to Brandon Montour signing with Seattle once the market opens, seven years and around $50 million</p>
<p>&mdash; Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) <a href="https://twitter.com/PierreVLeBrun/status/1807794196478120381?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Brandon Montour was a pivotal part of the Panthers resurgence in the last two years, although he saw his points take a dip this season due to injuries. Seattle&#8217;s getting a strong piece for their blue line with a Stanley Cup pedigree, but a 7-year deal worth $50 million feels a little rich for my blood.</p>
<h3>7:45 &#8211; Jake Guentzel Bolts for Tampa, Tanev Leafs for Toronto</h3>
<p>We already have a couple major signings to talk about.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jake Guentzel is official at 7x$9M</p>
<p>&mdash; Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) <a href="https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1807761802756768123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Jake Guentzel was the Canucks&#8217; big free agent target, but the Lightning swooped in and traded for his signing rights from Carolina after moving out Mikhail Sergachev and Tanner Jeannot. Guentzel&#8217;s new $9 million AAV would&#8217;ve made him the second highest paid Canuck behind Elias Pettersson, but instead he takes a deal in Tampa Bay, where he&#8217;ll get to play alongside Nikita Kucherov with no state income tax.</p>
<p>Elsewhere in the Atlantic Division, a former Canuck has put ink to paper.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chris Tanev signs for 6 x$4.5M in Toronto</p>
<p>Full no-move throughout. Approx 80 per cent in bonuses</p>
<p>&mdash; Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) <a href="https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1807782898616906235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>This deal is a head scratcher for a second, but then you remember the Leafs&#8217; GM is Brad Treliving. The Canucks were hoping to bring Tanev back home to shore up the blue line, but if six years at an AAV of $4.5 million for the 34-year old was the asking price, then maybe they dodged a bullet on that one.</p>


Happy Canada Day, and welcome to the CanucksArmy free agency live blog!

Jim Rutherford, Patrick Allvin and the rest of the Canucks' front office have been planning for July 1 from the moment the season ended in Game 7 against the Edmonton Oilers. And they know as well as anybody that simply "running it back" won't be enough to push the Canucks to the next level.

A lot of the Canucks' intended free agent targets are already gone, including Jake Guentzel heading to Tampa Bay and Sam Reinhart returning to Florida. So Allvin &amp; Co. will have to pivot and find a different way to secure a new linemate for Elias Pettersson, upgrade the blue line and refill the depth pool. Last season's signings were all key contributors to the team's success in 2023-24. Can the Canucks recapture that magic a second time today?

Throughout the day I'll be updating this page with the biggest rumours, stories and signings from across the NHL, and how they might affect the Canucks plans overall. If you want to keep up with all the deals during your day off from work, make sure to bookmark this page and hit the refresh button often during the morning and afternoon!

Let the chaos begin!

<hr />

<h3>1:20 - Canucks sign Vinny Desharnais</h3>
Hold up we've got a late signing!

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1807870321397321771

My initial thoughts: I don't really know if Vincent Desharnais solves much of anything for the Canucks. The team already has plenty of heavy defensive-minded options on the blue line, and opting for another one who's 6-foot-7 without much offensive upside feels like a missed opportunity to add some more scoring punch or playmaking.

At a cost of $2 million AAV, Desharnais' deal certainly isn't a backbreaker, but it's also more than I would've paid for a sixth or seventh defenseman.
<h3>1:00 - Done for now!</h3>
With the market near picked clean, it's time to shut this live blog down. Thank you so much for following along today, be sure to check out the work by our CA staff as we go in-depth on all the newest Canucks before heading off on summer break! Enjoy your offseason!
<h3>12:30 - Let's look at some early winners and losers</h3>
The contracts are slowing down to a crawl, so let's go back and look at some earlier moves in the meantime.

<strong>Winner: Nashville Predators</strong>
The Preds have had easily the biggest free agency day of any team, adding Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault <em>and </em>Brady Skeji in one fell swoop. Nashville learned their lesson from losing to the Canucks in the first round: if you can't score, you aren't winning. Now they've got some big time finishers and have essentially found a way to retool on the fly. They should be much better next season.

https://twitter.com/PierreVLeBrun/status/1807808834280599974

<strong>Loser: Dallas Stars</strong>
For a team that made the Western Conference Final this year, the Stars sure haven't made enough upgrades. Outside of re-signing Matt Duchene to a one-year deal, the Stars biggest move of the day was giving a three year deal to Casey DeSmith after Scott Wedgewood left for Nashville. The Stars are clearly banking on improvements from their existing roster, but I'm not so sure that's in the cards.

<strong>Winner: New Jersey Devils</strong>
After adding Jacob Markstrom and trading John Marino, the Devils have spent today bolstering their blue line by adding Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon. Last year the Devils Achilles' heel was their inability to keep the puck out of the net. Now a lot of close games that they lost in 2023-24 could flip in their favour this season.

<strong>Loser: Vegas Golden Knights</strong>
How the turn tables. The Knights let Jonathan Marchessault walk assuming they'd be able to replace him with someone like Steven Stamkos. Instead both  players went to Nashville and Vegas has been caught holding the bag with only  Zach Aston-Reese and Tanner Laczynski to show for it. Just goes to show that if you're running an organization as ruthless about transactions as Vegas, the bill eventually comes due.
<h3>12:00 - Once again I am asking for a puck moving defenceman</h3>
https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1807852045149548870
<h3>11:20 - DeBrusk talking to the media as the market slows down</h3>
The newest Vancouver Canuck spoke the media via Zoom at 11, and we'll have more on his press conference later today. But in the meantime, DeBrusk spoke about his experience learning behind one of the NHL's all time best two-way forwards.

https://twitter.com/BatchHockey/status/1807840859049844778

With the rest of the NHL spending over $700 million in the first hour(!) of free agency, the market is running out of options fast. We'll see how long we have to wait for a state of the union from Patrik Allvin.
<h3>11:00 - Canucks add goalie Jiri Patera as Silovs insurance</h3>
https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1807836095339811228

Folks, we have a goalie signing.

Jiri Patera has been in the Vegas Golden Knights system for the last four years, spending the vast majority of it with their farm team in Henderson. Patera has just eight games of NHL experience over the last two seasons (less than Arturs Silovs did entering the playoffs!) and will likely slot in as a third or fourth option for the Canucks with Silovs expected to take on the role of Thatcher Demko's backup.
<h3>10:40 - Where to go from here</h3>
The Canucks don't have a whole lot of cap space left to work with, but there's still some needs they have to fill before October. The Canucks seem to have the forwards all locked up, but they could probably use at least one more puck-moving defender to round out the blue line. Perhaps an Erik Brannstrom or Adam Boqvist could fit that bill without breaking the bank.
<h3>10:15 - Canucks add AHL depth in centre Nate Smith</h3>
https://twitter.com/JDylanBurke/status/1807826097528361091

A rare signing that makes you say, "Who??"

Nate Smith has been in the Arizona Coyotes system for the last three years, save for a couple months with Team USA during the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Last season Smith had 31 points for the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners but never got a sniff of NHL action. Odds are that will be the same case in Vancouver, but perhaps the 25 year old can find another gear in Abbotsford.
<h3>10:00 - Forbort deal finalized</h3>
https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1807820400526782688

Another strong bargain bin add for the Canucks. With Ian Cole heading to Utah for double the price, Forbort provides better value for what the Canucks are trying to accomplish by leaving more cap space for additional moves.
<h3>9:30 - The Canucks have arrived</h3>
Patrik Allvin is cooking.

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1807813504549925202

This is a biiiiig swing by the Canucks. DeBrusk has been one of the Bruins' top forwards for quite some time, but was always Boston's best "willing to trade for help" player as well. Seven years is a heck of a commitment for the Canucks to make for a Pettersson winger, but if things go according to plan it could end up looking like a bargain.

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1807813861980217464

Kiefer Sherwood was a tough matchup for the Canucks in the playoffs, and now he brings his speed to a bottom six that's sorely lacking it. Sherwood had 27 points with Nashville last season and knows how to play a physical checking role as well for a nice team friendly contract.

https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1807814855593976146

If there's one common theme among these Canucks deals, it's that they're all hard to play against. Danton Heinen had 36 points with Boston last season and injects more strong skating into the depth chart. Heinen is able to make plays off the rush and take on bigger defensive responsibilities like the penalty kill. At $2.25 million the Canucks are paying right around market value for depth on the wings.
<h3>9:15 - Derek Forbort, Vancouver Canuck?</h3>
https://twitter.com/LachInTheCrease/status/1807809071162204489

Hey, I know that <del>insider</del> tv viewer!

Derek Forbort played 35 games for Boston last season and picked up four points in the process. Forbort will give the Canucks another depth defensive option, but one who'll be more focused on a shutdown role than providing scoring. The term of the deal has not yet been announced.
<h3>9:04 - OEL signs with Toronto</h3>
https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/1807807153513632073

Quads told me my analysis can't just be laughing for this contract, so I'll try to play nice.

In fairness, OEL was quite good this past season with the Cup champion Panthers. But he was also on a cheap one year deal with zero pressure, whereas there's going to be plenty in Toronto.

Never underestimate Brad Treliving's love for former Canucks.
<h3>9:00 - The market officially opens!</h3>
The deals are going to come fast and furious now, so stay tuned as we find out which players are officially off the board.
<h3>8:50 - Toffoli is San Jose bound</h3>
https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1807803892635181554

Tyler Toffoli has secured the bag in Northern California, taking the chance to play with Macklin Celebrini on the Sharks even if that means playing on a team that won't be competing for the playoffs.
<h3>8:22 - Friends to Enemies</h3>
https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1807795110874100107

This is somehow the worst case scenario.

Lindholm going to the Bruins always made sense, but Zadorov too?! Talk about a profound betrayal. We knew the likelihood of either finding their way back to Vancouver was near zero, but we'll see what the numbers look like when they come in.
<h3>8:13 - Brandon Montour to Seattle</h3>
Another defenseman is off the board, and he's heading to the team down the I-5.

https://twitter.com/PierreVLeBrun/status/1807794196478120381

Brandon Montour was a pivotal part of the Panthers resurgence in the last two years, although he saw his points take a dip this season due to injuries. Seattle's getting a strong piece for their blue line with a Stanley Cup pedigree, but a 7-year deal worth $50 million feels a little rich for my blood.
<h3>7:45 - Jake Guentzel Bolts for Tampa, Tanev Leafs for Toronto</h3>
We already have a couple major signings to talk about.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1807761802756768123

Jake Guentzel was the Canucks' big free agent target, but the Lightning swooped in and traded for his signing rights from Carolina after moving out Mikhail Sergachev and Tanner Jeannot. Guentzel's new $9 million AAV would've made him the second highest paid Canuck behind Elias Pettersson, but instead he takes a deal in Tampa Bay, where he'll get to play alongside Nikita Kucherov with no state income tax.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic Division, a former Canuck has put ink to paper.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1807782898616906235

This deal is a head scratcher for a second, but then you remember the Leafs' GM is Brad Treliving. The Canucks were hoping to bring Tanev back home to shore up the blue line, but if six years at an AAV of $4.5 million for the 34-year old was the asking price, then maybe they dodged a bullet on that one.

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