Draft week is now upon us. But in short order, once it has passed, the focus shifts to free agency. And according to recent reports, two Vancouver Canucks pending unrestricted free agents are believed to be testing the market.

According to Donnie & Dhali’s Rick Dhaliwal, Canucks forward Teddy Blueger and defenceman Derek Forbort will be testing the free agent market on July 1.

Blueger, 31, signed a one-year, $1.9 million contract with the Canucks for the 2023-24 season. In his first year in Vancouver, the Latvian centreman formed a fantastic connection on the third line with Dakota Joshua and Conor Garland. The trio’s success resulted in Blueger matching his career high in points, with 28 (six goals and 22 assists), in just 68 games.

His performance earned him a two-year, $1.8 million AAV contract to stay in Vancouver. The following year, Blueger put forth a full 82-game campaign, scoring eight goals and 26 points. Last season, Blueger suffered through an injury for more than half the year, resulting in just 35 games. Despite the long absence, Blueger tied his career-high in goals (nine) and finished with 17 points. On a full 82-game pace, Blueger would have finished with 40 points – 12 more points than his previous career high. The Canucks attempted to move Blueger at the NHL Trade Deadline but did not have an offer enticing enough to part with the centreman.

Forbort, 34, signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Canucks for the 2024-25 season. Forbort struggled with an injury and loss to start his Canucks tenure, but once he returned to the lineup, he singlehandedly turned the penalty kill around into a top-three unit to end that season.

Following that year, Forbort earned himself a raise, inking a one-year, $2 million AAV contract for the 2025-26 campaign. It was a lost year for Forbort, who played just two games before injury shut down his season.

The two will now be looking for a new home on July 1, in what is considered a weak free-agent class.