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If the industrious reporters at NEWS 1130 radio in Vancouver are correct, Vancouver's UFA shopping list has begun to take definite shape.
The UFA interview period has started & have learned that the #Canucks have called the agents for forwards Mikkel Boedker and Darren Helm.
— NEWS 1130 Sports (@NEWS1130Sports) June 27, 2016
Both bring speed, Boedker split this season between ARI-COL and Helm played for Willie Desjardins in Medicine Hat. #Canucks
— NEWS 1130 Sports (@NEWS1130Sports) June 27, 2016
Later, they added two names to the Canucks' early contacts.
The UFA interview period started, #Canucks were busy, they called agents for Eriksson, Boedker, Helm & Ridge Meadows native Andrew Ladd.
— NEWS 1130 Sports (@NEWS1130Sports) June 27, 2016
Loui Eriksson is a 30 year old left-shot RW coming off a six-year deal with Boston with a cap hit of $4.25 million a year (all figures from GeneralFanager.com). Word earlier this week has that he was seeking a new six-year deal, while Boston was only willing to offer four. He's a good player and his history with the Sedins makes him appealing, but a six-year deal for a 30 year old player is somewhat scary.
Mikkel Boedker is a left-shot LW. He's 26 and was drafted eighth overall by Phoenix in 2008. He's coming off a two-year bridge deal valued at $3.75 million annually. This will be his first chance at a UFA payday, and his age and wheels should make him an appealing target for teams. Before Arizona dealt him to Colorado, Boedker reportedly turned down five-years at $5.5 million from the Coyotes.
Darren Helm, 29, is a speedy, versatile center who has played his entire career with Detroit. His last contract was a four-year deal paying him $2.125 million per season. He is evidently still negotiating with the Red Wings, who may be able to fit him into their payroll now that Ken Holland has cleared Pavel Datsuyk's $7.5 million contract. The Detroit Free Press speculates Helm could command $3 million or more per year with his next contract.
The Lower Mainland's own Andrew Ladd was the player Chicago added at the trade deadline, acquiring him from Winnipeg for Marko Dano and a first round pick. Ladd, 30, is a left-shot LW coming off a five-year $4.4 million dollar AAV contract, and since Chicago can't afford him, he'll be hitting the open market. He is what they are calling these days a 200-foot player. He's both a power play threat and a deft penalty killer, and he was Winnipeg's captain up until the trade.
This is the first bit of news in what is sure to be an exciting week leading up to Friday.