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Brock Boeser Publicly Calls Out the Canucks Regarding Ongoing Contract Negotiations
Brock Boeser appears to be very frustrated with how things are going regarding his contract negotiations, and he voiced his displeasure towards the Canucks.
Brock Boeser turned 28 on Tuesday. A day before celebrating with his teammates, he skated with the Vancouver Canucks at Los Angeles Kings practice facility in El Segundo, near LAX, just as he did as a rookie eight years ago.
Then, his rookie initiation feast was hosted by Canucks legends Henrik and Daniel Sedin, and veterans Thomas Vanek and Alex Edler. Now, all of his previous teammates are gone.
Even Thatcher Demko was in the AHL when Boeser tallied 29 goals in 62 games as a rookie sensation in 2017-18, placing second in Calder Trophy voting behind Mat Barzal.
Now the longest-tenured Canuck since Bo Horvat left, Boeser finds himself in a delicate situation. With the Kings on the agenda for Wednesday, only 10 days before the trade deadline, he remains unsigned past this season.
Eligible to become an unrestricted free agent, he's a priority asset and is being talked about in trades leading up to March 7.
The Burnsville, Minn., native is finishing up his second three-year bridge contract, still waiting on the long-term deal he's been seeking.
"That's tough to say just because I would have never guessed the year would have gone how it's gone after last year," Boeser said, referring to the turmoil that engulfed the Canucks for much of the winter.
"I would never guess ... the things that happened this year (like J.T. Miller getting traded) were going to happen before the season started. It's been a lot. I think, really, the blessing in all this is that we're still in a wild-card spot."
"I would never guess ... the things that happened this year (like J.T. Miller getting traded) were going to happen before the season started. It's been a lot. I think, really, the blessing in all this is that we're still in a wild-card spot."
Despite this uncertainty, however, he has remained very committed to winning for the Canucks this season, feeling that everything will work out.
Boeser is frustrated the Canucks haven't signed him yet
"I mean, I understand it's a business," Boeser said. "I feel like I'm a pretty loyal guy, and I feel like that should speak for itself. But it's a business, and that's just how things operate.
"We all know the three options that could happen (before the deadline): trade, re-sign or neither. If nothing happens and July 1 comes around, I still think I'm in a good spot (as a UFA).
But I've talked to you and definitely been open about, you know, how much I love it in Vancouver. So, yeah, it's actually frustrating that nothing's got done.
"Obviously, it's not all out of my control. I feel I can score more and produce more and maybe be a difference maker out there. So I'm really just trying to focus on helping our team win hockey games right now."
"We all know the three options that could happen (before the deadline): trade, re-sign or neither. If nothing happens and July 1 comes around, I still think I'm in a good spot (as a UFA).
But I've talked to you and definitely been open about, you know, how much I love it in Vancouver. So, yeah, it's actually frustrating that nothing's got done.
"Obviously, it's not all out of my control. I feel I can score more and produce more and maybe be a difference maker out there. So I'm really just trying to focus on helping our team win hockey games right now."
But with February coming to a close, extension talks are at a stalemate. Boeser likely never imagined starting the season not knowing his fate. His dream of playing his entire career in Vancouver, like the Sedins, is in limbo.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 26 | 533 ANSWERS Brock Boeser Publicly Calls Out the Canucks Regarding Ongoing Contract Negotiations Is this Brock Boeser's final season in Vancouver? | ||
| Yes | 357 | 67 % |
| No | 176 | 33 % |
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