Will the next few days really mark the end of Brock Boeser’s time with the Vancouver Canucks?
Earlier this week, the sharp-shooting winger who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 updated Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre on the low odds that he’ll re-up with the team that drafted him in 2015.
“Honestly, it's unlikely at this point,” Boeser said. “It sucks, it's unfortunate.”
The 28-year-old also admitted that he’s currently not in contact with his agent, Ben Hankinson, because he’s trying to concentrate on his game and avoid distractions.
So he may not be aware of the nugget that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman dropped during his Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday, saying that the sticking point between the Canucks and Boeser’s camp was term. That may or may not mean that it’s still possible to find common ground, but it does sound like negotiations are ongoing.
At this stage of Boeser’s career, it’s understandable that he’s looking for security. All three of his previous contracts have been three-year durations, and he settled for a relatively small raise on July 1, 2022, when he went from $5.875 million to $6.65 million at a time where he could have elected to file for arbitration and potentially reach UFA status one year sooner than he is.
Just a few months into that deal, both sides were thinking about cutting ties. But a trade never materialized and Boeser went on to have the best year of his career in 2023-24 — hitting 40 goals in the regular season and lighting up the playoffs with a point per game before a blood clot sidelined him for the critical Game 7 of Vancouver’s second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers.
This season, along with nearly everyone on his team, Boeser has dealt with still more adversity. His came in the form of a concussion that sidelined him for seven games and the trade of his long-time center, J.T. Miller.
“Millsy’s such a good playmaker,” Boeser said last fall. “I just go to the net and try to get open.”
Boeser put up 16 goals and 33 points in the 43 games he played with Miller this season. During the eight games that Miller missed due to his personal leave of absence in November, he was also solid, with seven points in eight games. But since Miller’s late-January trade, Boeser has dipped to nine goals and 16 points in 30 games.
Against the Minnesota Wild at Rogers Arena on Saturday, he was quiet. He logged more than 20 minutes but finished with just three shot attempts, which were all blocked.
The Canucks are now dealing with so many injuries that they’re making call-ups to replace the call-ups. Down the middle, the original Elias Pettersson and Filip Chytil have both been shut down for the year. AHL replacements Nils Aman and Max Sasson were both unavailable for Saturday’s game. So with Pius Suter, Aatu Raty and Teddy Blueger handling duties down the middle, an emergency call had to be placed to Abbotsford on Saturday to summon 22-year-old Ty Mueller, a first-year pro who was drafted in the fourth round in 2023.
For his NHL debut, Mueller slotted straight into the top six, centering Boeser and Jake DeBrusk in what became a 3-2 comeback win in overtime for the Wild.
“We didn’t really help him too much as a line, me and Brock,” DeBrusk candidly admitted after the game. “I wish I could have done more for him, in terms of generating chances.”
Famously, Boeser’s first-ever NHL game also came against the Minnesota Wild, his hometown team. On March 25, 2017, Boeser joined Daniel and Henrik Sedin as part of the starting lineup at Xcel Energy Center. Then, in the second period, he scored his first NHL goal on a tap-in after a rush by Sven Baertschi and Bo Horvat.
This day in #Canucks history, March 25, 2017:
— Vancouver Canucks History (@canuckshistoryx) March 25, 2025
Making his NHL debut at home in Minnesota, Brock Boeser scores his first career goal.
🎥: First NHL Goals / YouTube pic.twitter.com/O4JlxrFko6
This season, Boeser hit multiple milestones: 500 games as a Canuck, 400 points and 200 goals. He sits eighth in goals in franchise history, sandwiched between Henrik Sedin and Horvat, and is also eighth in goals among the highly regarded 2015 draft class — impressive for a player who was selected 23rd overall.
Because Boeser has had one foot out the door so often before, it’s still possible to imagine him finding common ground with the Canucks again. Right now, though, this feels different.
His status is just one big question that the Canucks will need to work to resolve soon after the curtain drops on this season on Wednesday.
Rick Tocchet’s future is also up in the air — but Friedman also reported on Saturday that both sides are looking to come to a resolution quickly after the season’s end. And after Quinn Hughes spoke passionately about the positive influence that Tocchet and Adam Foote have had on his game earlier this week, perhaps that bodes well for long-term stability going forward.
That would be a welcome outcome after such a tumultuous year.
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Toronto can win the Atlantic division with a win against Carolina and a Lightning loss on Sunday.
As Mitch Marner fired the puck past Jakub Dobes in overtime on Saturday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs won the game and clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
After Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki's chance to end the game was stopped by Anthony Stolarz 20 seconds into overtime, Toronto went the other way with numbers.
Marner hopped on for Brandon Carlo, received the puck in Montreal's zone, and found the back of the net for his 98th point of the season.
MAGIC MITCH BREAKS THE ICE IN OVERTIME 🧊
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 13, 2025
Mitch Marner scores the Subway Canada OT clincher to win it for the Maple Leafs pic.twitter.com/mNNQ3sjMwc
As this group has often discussed, individual accolades are significant, but team success is paramount. And when the Maple Leafs walk into Carolina's PNC Arena, they're one step closer to locking up the Atlantic division.
With the Tampa Bay Lightning (three games left) and Florida Panthers (two games left) four points behind Toronto in the standings, a Maple Leafs win and a Lightning loss on Sunday would clinch them the division.
"You want to be home as much as you can for the playoffs so it will be great," Marner said Saturday. "It’s always exciting in this barn when playoffs come around."
If both teams win, Toronto can beat one of the Buffalo Sabres or Detroit Red Wings next week to win the Atlantic. For now, though, they'll have home-ice versus whoever they play (likely Ottawa) in the first round.
"I think it’s important to have home ice, but we’re not done yet," head coach Craig Berube said. "We got games yet so we gotta focus on the next game, but it’s a great job by our guys."
Brandon Carlo, although happy to play in Toronto more in the first round, shared a similar sentiment.
"When you’re playing at home, you have a good opportunity, especially going into the later games of the rounds," the defenseman said.
"But overall, you have to have the same mindset regardless that each game matters. It’s not really where it’s played. It’s just taking it one game at a time and focusing on the process rather than the outcome."
There are several reasons why a team would want home-ice advantage. You're at home for longer periods, and you'll have the fans on your side, two of the more important things.
Being on the road, however, can be useful because players can put everyday distractions in the rear-view mirror. Knowing your schedule in round one is key, but the next step is figuring out the opponent, which should come soon.
"I think any time you can lock up, it’s massive, especially going into whoever we’re going to play," Max Domi said on Saturday. "It’s going to be a heck of a battle in the first round, so hopefully our fans are ready to go because we will be for sure."
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LAS VEGAS -- Golden Knights forward Keegan Kolesar was honored with his first team award in his fifth NHL season with the franchise.
Demonstrating a consistent commitment to the community, the 27-year-old was named the Vegas Strong Service Award winner after Saturday's 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators.
The award is given annually to the player most involved in serving and giving back to the Vegas community, as Kolesar joins the likes of Jack Eichel, Reilly Smith, Mark Stone, and Shea Theodore as past recipients of this honor.
Good guy… good guy 😁🔑#VegasBornpic.twitter.com/Mmht6elbMQ
— y-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 13, 2025
"It means a lot," Kolesar said. "This is my second year working with Adams Place. The first year, I just kind of wanted to do something for myself, it wasn't about getting it out there. This year, I think someone caught wind of it, and the message was spread. So, I'll see the positives in that sends a message out to people that this organization is here and kids, maybe, need a little bit of help.
"I'm trying to do is just change someone's life, and for a positive way."
Just before Christmas at the team’s morning skate at City National Arena, Kolesar hosted approximately 50 guests from Adam’s Place, a local Las Vegas non-profit that supports children, teens and families experiencing loss through Camp Cope peer support groups, education and training.
Kolesar, who lost his father to COVID-19, donated two season tickets to allow Adam’s Place members to attend every game at T-Mobile Arena this past season.
He also participated in the design and construction of a KABOOM! Playground, funded by the VGK Foundation at the Donna Street Community Center in North Las Vegas. Kolesar regularly spends time with members of the community at ball hockey clinics or meeting with them after practices or games. He's been a consistent presence at the team’s Holiday Knights of Giving initiatives in December.
Goaltender Adin Hill brought home the team's First Star Award, an honor that came down to Saturday's home finale. Hill won the award after being named one of the game’s three stars 10 times at T-Mobile Arena, including four First Stars. The 28-year-old went 20-6-2 in 28 home starts this season, setting a franchise record for home victories. In just his third season with Vegas, Hill established career bests with 50 games played, 32 wins, a 2.47 goals-against average and four shutouts.
THIS LUCKY FUN IS TAKING ADIN HILL’S JERSEY HOME!! 😄 #VegasBorn | @CircaSportspic.twitter.com/fCbylCKBc1
— y-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 13, 2025
Finally, Brett Howden was awarded the Seventh Player Award, which is given to the player who most exceeded expectations on the ice.
Howden, who was drafted by Tampa Bay in 2016 and has appeared in 429 career games, showed exactly how he's exceeded expectations on Saturday night, continuing a career-best campaign with his 23rd goal of the season. Howden, who also had an assist in the win, matched the total number of goals he had collectively in his first three seasons with the Golden Knights. His 39 points are 16 more than his previous career high. His goal total ranks tied for fourth on the team, while his +15 rating is tied for fourth among Vegas forwards. He also ranks third on the team with 118 hits, second among forwards, another career-high mark.
"I think I gained some confidence, and I just kind of kept rolling with it," Howden said. "I was given a lot of opportunities. With that comes confidence from the coach and I think, I've said it all the time, we're surrounded by such good players here that no matter where you play in the lineup or who you're playing with, you're playing with good players.
"I think it opened my eyes a lot this year to see what I can accomplish."
🎥 Howden: We're surrounded by such good players here, that no matter where you play in the lineup or who you're playing with, you're playing with good players. pic.twitter.com/tIuAPNY2L5
— y-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 13, 2025
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