NHL Analyst Recommends Vancouver Canucks Target for Offseason Acquisition
As the NHL offseason approaches, trade speculation is already heating up, and one analyst believes the Vancouver Canucks should make a bold move to strengthen their roster. Thomas Drance of The Athletic has suggested that the Canucks’ management, particularly General Manager Patrik Allvin, should strongly consider pursuing veteran forward Steven Stamkos to fill a key gap in their lineup.
According to Drance, the Canucks are on the lookout for a dependable second-line center as they prepare for the 2025-26 NHL season. With the future of current winger Brock Boeser in doubt—Boeser is rumored to be exploring free agency—Vancouver could soon find itself in need of another offensive weapon. Stamkos, a seasoned scorer and two-time Stanley Cup winner, has emerged as a possible candidate to fill that void.
Drance points out that Stamkos, while perhaps not producing at his peak anymore, still remains a credible offensive threat. “He’s still a lethal shooter and would bring leadership qualities to a team that could use them,” Drance noted. These leadership skills and his consistent scoring ability would be significant assets to a Canucks team looking to deepen its offensive options.
Currently with the Nashville Predators, Stamkos signed there after a long and decorated tenure with the Tampa Bay Lightning. This season, he has recorded 47 points—25 goals and 22 assists—across 77 games. While that output marks a slight dip from his historical averages, it still reflects his ability to contribute meaningfully on the ice. His experience and knack for scoring, especially on the power play, could be just what Vancouver needs as they try to build on recent momentum and push deeper into the playoffs next year.
Adding an interesting twist to this potential move is the fact that Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has a personal history with Stamkos. The two previously worked together during the 2009-10 NHL season, when Tocchet was an assistant coach for the Lightning. That year, Stamkos reached an impressive milestone by netting 50 goals. Tocchet’s familiarity with Stamkos could serve as a key factor in integrating the veteran seamlessly into Vancouver’s current system, should a trade ever come to fruition.
With Boeser’s potential departure and the pressing need for more offensive firepower, especially within the top six forwards, the Canucks are expected to be aggressive in addressing their scoring depth. The power play is one area that has fluctuated for Vancouver in recent seasons, and Stamkos has long been regarded as one of the league’s premier power-play snipers. His presence on the man advantage would provide a much-needed boost and give Vancouver another dynamic scoring threat alongside key players like Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller.
However, any potential trade for Stamkos would not be without its challenges. For starters, he carries an $8 million cap hit—a figure that would force Vancouver to make tough financial decisions or creatively maneuver existing contracts to fit him under the salary ceiling. Furthermore, Stamkos has a full no-movement clause in his contract, which gives him complete control over where he plays. Any deal would require his full consent, meaning Allvin and his team would need to convince Stamkos that joining the Canucks is in his best interest both professionally and personally.
It’s worth noting that Stamkos’ desire to win could align with the Canucks’ current trajectory. Vancouver has shown significant promise in recent seasons and appears poised to make a deeper playoff run, assuming they make the right roster additions. A proven winner like Stamkos could be the missing piece, not just as a scorer but as a locker room leader who has been through the highs and lows of long playoff battles.
Despite these optimistic projections, Drance was careful to point out that acquiring Stamkos is a long shot. Given the complexities of his contract and the competition the Canucks might face if Stamkos were to consider waiving his clause, the odds remain slim. Nevertheless, Drance included Stamkos on a short list of potential targets for Vancouver’s offseason efforts.
Another name that surfaced in Drance’s discussion was Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett. Like Stamkos, Bennett offers versatility at center and plays a rugged, two-way game that could appeal to Vancouver’s coaching staff. Whether it’s Stamkos, Bennett, or another name not yet on the radar, the key takeaway is that the Canucks are determined to reinforce their lineup, particularly at the center position.
As the offseason nears, all eyes will be on GM Patrik Allvin and his next moves. The Canucks have taken steps forward in recent years, but to become a true contender in the Western Conference, they’ll need to solidify their forward group and find a way to balance scoring with defensive structure. Bringing in someone of Stamkos’ caliber would certainly move the needle, though it remains to be seen if such a blockbuster is even within the realm of possibility.
In the end, the suggestion from Drance is less a definitive prediction and more of a challenge: if the Canucks want to be serious about winning, they need to start targeting players who know how to win—and few fit that description better than Steven Stamkos.
