After eight seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, it appears that Brock Boeser’s time in the Lower Mainland is coming to an end.
The longest-tenured Canuck has scored 204 goals and 434 points in 554 games, including some of the biggest goals in recent memory. Boeser’s four-goal opening night to start their Pacific Division winning campaign in 2023-2024, followed up by his hat-trick performance in Game 4 against the Nashville Predators in the opening round of the playoffs last season, or when he walked down the right wing and fired a slap shot with two seconds remaining to breath hope into the Canucks’ 2024-2025 playoff hopes, he’s scored some big goals in the blue and green sweater.
However, he has earned the right to test the waters in free agency and chase that life-changing payday. While it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibilities that he will return, it appears all the more likely that the Brockstar will be sporting different colours in 2025-2026.
But who might be interested in Boeser’s goal-scoring services?

Carolina Hurricanes

We start with probably the best fit for both the player and the team. The only thing the Hurricanes have truly lacked is a natural goal-scorer, and that is Boeser.
Over the past three seasons, they have only two players to reach over 30 goals (Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis) and four others to reach the 20-goal mark (Jack Roslovic, Andrei Svechnikov and two former Hurricanes, Martin Necas and Teuvo Teravainen).
This problem has been highlighted even further in the postseason, where they haven’t had that reliable sniper to light the lamp when the games matter most. Well, Boeser might be the most clutch postseason goal scorer on the market this summer.
Let’s not forget the reported trade that never happened at this past deadline. The Hurricanes reportedly were interested in acquiring the Canucks winger at the eleventh hour, due to complications with the Mikko Rantanen trade to the Dallas Stars. But now, they have $28+ million in cap space to sign him for free this offseason.

Columbus Blue Jackets

After a massive 23-point improvement in the standings, the Blue Jackets are on the up-and-up. They have a plethora of young players who are primed for a breakout.
The Blue Jackets have the most money heading into this offseason at over $40 million, with only Dmitri Voronkov, Ivan Provorov and Dante Fabbro of significance to sign. In terms of the fit for Boeser, he would pair nicely as a one-two scoring punch with Kirill Marchenko and have the opportunity to lead a young group as they grow into a playoff contender.

Detroit Red Wings

Everybody has been wondering when the Yzer-plan was going to make a big splash in free agency. This could be their big move, finally acquiring a player of significance in their prime that matches the age of the core, rather than veterans like Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko and Justin Holl.
The Red Wings have solid offensive contributors already in the top-six, with players like Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, and Alex DeBrincat. This would allow Boeser to play with a similar cast as he did in Vancouver last year when he had a career year with 40 goals.
Money isn’t an issue for Detroit either, as they have over $21 million in cap space to spend on Boeser. The Red Wings have to decide whether to retain veterans Kane and Jeff Petry, with RFAs Jonathan Berggren and Elmer Soderblom also needing new deals. Another need would be to help fix the blueline, but even after finding another top-four defenceman, it would still leave Detroit with enough money to take a run on Boeser.

Los Angeles Kings

What’s going on in Los Angeles seems a little odd. Deadline acquisition, Andrei Kuzmenko, has yet to be re-signed despite having so much success in his short time there.
Does new GM Ken Holland want to bring in a fresh top-six sniper for his group?
The only reason this may not work out is that the Kings’ highest-paid forward is Kevin Fiala, who makes $7.85 million annually. Are they really going to pay Boeser what he’s looking for and make him the highest-paid King? Especially when they are just one year away from needing to extend their current sniper, Adrian Kempe?
Regardless, the Kings are realistically one top-six forward short, and could make a splash with the new GM in town.

Minnesota Wild

Now, this is probably everybody’s most likely landing spot for Boeser.
Minnesota were just relieved of their massive cap recapture penalties from the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts, sitting with just shy of $16 million in cap space. And the beauty of it all is they don’t have anybody to re-sign, outside of Marco Rossi, who the Wild are reportedly shopping.
So, filling that second-line centre role is probably at the top of their priority list, but they could also use another top-six contributor. Who better than the Burnsville, Minnesota native, who has always been involved when Boeser’s name comes up in trade talks?
If Minnesota signed Boeser, it would leave them with a lethal set of top-six wingers: Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Mats Zuccarello, and Boeser. He would likely take a bit less to play in his home state, allowing the Wild to find that second-line centre and complete their top-six.

New York Rangers

The Rangers might be the biggest question mark heading into this offseason, solely because of how GM Chris Drury seems to be having a fire sale. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of untouchables on this team. Chris Kreider was already traded, and K’Andre Miller is reportedly being shopped as well.
So, what are the Rangers trying to do?
They have the least amount of cap space on this list, but they seem to be trying to free up money. Would Boeser come to the Big Apple and perhaps reunite with his long-time linemate in Vancouver, JT Miller? This would give the Rangers one of the scariest top-sixes in the league, with Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, Alexis Lafreniere and Boeser?
The Rangers still need to sign a trio of RFAs, including Will Cuylle, Matthew Robertson, and Zach Jones. But they will also need to find somebody to replace the goal-scoring void Kreider leaves after the trade to Anaheim. Reuniting Boeser with Miller would certainly do that.

Ottawa Senators

The Senators have another interesting offseason ahead. They have just under $11 million of available cap space after signing Fabian Zetterlund to a three-year, $4.275 million AAV extension. They are now tasked with finding a Claude Giroux replacement, as talks between the two parties have reportedly not made any progress and signing a backup goalie.
Former Canucks head coach Travis Green is now the bench boss in the Nations Capital. Could Green sell Boeser on the direction of the Senators by giving him the top line right-wing spot beside Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle? The Senators are another team that showed signs of turning into a contender.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Maple Leafs would only be interested in Boeser’s services if Mitch Marner moves on. According to recent reports, this seems more and more likely as we approach July 1.
Regardless of Marner’s decision, it’s going to be a busy offseason for the Maple Leafs. They have over $25 million in cap space to re-sign John Tavares and a pair of RFAs in Nicolas Robertson and Matthew Knies. Assuming Knies and Tavares would take up over $14 million in cap space, this would leave the Maple Leafs with over $11 million to spend on Marner’s replacement.
Playing in an even bigger Canadian market might not be the most attractive option for the American forward, but playing on a perennial contender with the likes of Auston Matthews and William Nylander might be enough to convince Boeser to stay playing in Canada.

Utah Mammoth

It’s no secret that the Mammoth are going to be big players this offseason. They are reportedly one of the teams that will make a heavy push to land the biggest fish on the wing this summer in Mitch Marner, but what’s their backup plan if they can’t land him?
Boeser is the consensus next-best scoring option on the wing, and with over $20 million in cap space and only RFA Jack McBain to re-sign, the Mammoth have the money to pay him.
Like the Blue Jackets, the Mammoth have an up-and-coming young roster, who are looking for another offensive scoring winger to help bolster the team’s top-six.

Winnipeg Jets

Like the Maple Leafs, this is all heavily contingent on Nikolaj Ehlers’ future with the club. Reports have come out that Ehlers hasn’t officially ruled out a return to Winnipeg, but the winger wants to test the market for a big payday.
This is where they might set their sights on Boeser.
The Jets are coming off a Presidents Trophy campaign, with the reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner between the pipes. Winnipeg isn’t the most desirable place to play, but they have a solid core that is in the prime of their competitive years. They also have the benefit of being the closest contending market on this list to his home state of Minnesota.

Honourable Mentions

The Islanders are in honourable mentions because of the state of the team. They are one of the oldest forward cores in the entire NHL, but are heading toward a re-tool. Is that something Boeser wants to go through at this point of his career? Likely not.
However, when you have a former teammate and captain in Bo Horvat on the squad, who has the first-overall pick, a few promising prospects already coming as well as a highly regarded new GM in Mathieu Darche, who has the money to pay him and isn’t afraid to make a splash, could just be enough convincing to sway him on the Island.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers make a little sense because of their new head coach, Rick Tocchet. Boeser had a career year under Tocchet, scoring 40 goals and 73 points just one season ago. The only problem is that the Flyers are probably the furthest team away from competing on this list.
Not only do they not have much in the pipeline, but they also don’t have a starting calibre goaltender, or a centre who could help elevate his game. However, the power of a former coach might be enough to sway his decision.
What do you think, Canucks fans? Where do you think Boeser will sign if he leaves in free agency? Let us know in the comments below!

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