Photo credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Vancouver Canucks are reportedly eyeing up several top NCAA free agents to sign at the end of the 2025-26 season who they believe can help their rebuild.
As has been mentioned time and time again, the Vancouver Canucks’ main goal amid their rebuild is to get younger, with prospects and draft picks being a priority for Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford leading up to the trade deadline and ahead of the NHL Entry Draft in late-June.
“We are transitioning into a rebuild here, acquiring younger players through the draft. Obviously, the draft is really important for us. Since Jim and I got [here] three years ago, we’ve definitely always emphasized on getting younger.” Allvin said last month.
While the Canucks are focused on the trade deadline at the moment and seeing what they could receive for their pending unrestricted free agents, it looks like Patrik Allvin, Jim Rutherford and the team’s scouting staff are looking south of the border for some additional help for their rebuild.
Vancouver Canucks reportedly eyeing up top NCAA free agents to help with their rebuild
While making an appearance on Halford and Brough on Friday morning, National Hockey League insider Rick Dhaliwal revealed that the Vancouver Canucks are monitoring free agents in the NCAA, some of whom will become eligible to sign entry-level contracts in a matter of weeks when their season concludes.
He went on to add that the Vancouver Canucks currently have a list of players that they’re keeping an eye on and can give players an opportunity that other NHL organizations might not be able to offer.
Dhaliwal didn’t name any of the free agents that the Vancouver Canucks might be watching closely over the next few weeks, but there are several that we’ve highlighted the club should consider signing.
On the forward side of things, TJ Hughes of the University of Michigan (no relation to Quinn Hughes) is having a solid season thus far, registering 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists), 20 penalty minutes and is a plus-eight in 29 games.
Other forward options for the Vancouver Canucks include Jack Stockfish of Holy Cross College (29 GP – 9 G – 14 A – 23 PTS) and Coquitlam, British Columbia native Christian Fitzgerald (29 GP – 14 G – 10 A – 24 PTS), who is in his third season with the University of Michigan.
Meanwhile on defense, two names pop up immediately, Mac Gadowsky of Penn State University, who had an impressive 42-point campaign with Army last year, and Cal Thomas, a former sixth round pick of the Arizona Coyotes who’s in his fourth year with the University of Minnesota.
Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin has some big decisions to make in the coming weeks, but with a solid crop of NCAA free agents this year, the club is bound to sign someone who will make an impact on the NHL roster in the near future.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
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Vancouver Canucks reportedly eyeing up several top NCAA free agents amid their rebuild
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