Inking Boeser Long- Term- By: Kyle Welsford
Photo Creds- Rich Lam (Getty Images)
After an offseason full of change that concluded with two young franchise players in a contract standoff, the Vancouver Canucks’ upcoming offseason seems to be less tumultuous with only one major signing coming up: Brock Boeser. In the last year of his 3-year $17.625M contract (5.785 AAV), the Canucks will need to make a qualifying offer of $7.5M to retain Boeser’s RFA rights, provided the Canucks don’t extend him beforehand. Both team and player should be motivated to get a long-term deal done, so let’s examine what that would look like.
The 24-year-old right winger is currently in his sixth NHL season and has tallied 227 points (G-107 A-120) in 282 games. Averaging just over 0.8 points per game and 31 goals per 82 games, Boeser has solidified himself as a top line NHL winger. In addition, his playmaking has developed dramatically as he regularly elevates his teammates.
Over the past 5 seasons Brock Boeser’s points per game is comparable to Max Pacioretty (.81), Alex Debrincat (.80), and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (.81), among other elite talent. The aforementioned players all have contracts beyond this season and will serve as a guide for Boeser’s extension.
Max Pacioretty, 33, is 9 years older than Boeser, but has served as a captain and is a perennial 30+ goal scorer. He is in the second to last year of his 4-year $28M contract that pays him $7M per season. While Pacioretty is in a different stage of his career, his consistent production, leadership qualities, and playoff success can serve as a high benchmark for a Boeser extension.
Alex Debrincat is the same age as Boeser and is signed to a 3-year $19.2M that pays him $6.4M per season. Debrincat averages 36 goals per 82 games and can play both the right and leftwing. Both players are young ascending goal scorers. If the Canucks decide to extend Boeser for 3-4 years look at Debrincat’s $6.4M as being a solid comparable.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is fresh off signing an 8-year contract extension worth $41M last summer. This long-term commitment by the Oilers will see Nugent-Hopkins have an annual cap hit of $5.125M. While Nugent-Hopkins does not put up the raw goal scoring of Boeser, his overall point production is nearly identical. If the Canucks decide to go with an 8-year extension for Boeser, Nugent-Hopkins’ $5.125M could be a place to start.
Photo Creds- David Berding (USAToday)
The one aspect of Boeser’s game that I haven’t discussed are the various injuries that have plagued his young career. In the last 6 seasons, he has missed 46 games and many of those seasons have not been the regular 82 game schedule. This will certainly be brought up by the organization and could lower his value when it comes to an extension. If the Canucks cannot reach a long-term contract extension with Brock Boeser the benchmark will be $7.5M; however, a long-term extension could vary depending on term. Using the players mentioned I predict a contract landing somewhere between $6M-$7.25M per year.
-Kyle Welsford- Nucks Talk/ Olde City Sports Network