Free agency is about to look a whole lot different for the Vancouver Canucks.
Don’t expect any seven-year deals for wingers in their late 20s, as Vancouver did with Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser in the last two years.
Instead, they should follow a blueprint that’s been set by rebuilding teams.
In recent seasons, both the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks have targeted veteran players who can provide leadership for the next wave of young players.
Back in 2024, Chicago signed players like Pat Maroon, T.J. Brodie, Craig Smith, and Alec Martinez to one-year contracts. For more valuable players, they inked guys like Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen to medium-term deals.
There are a number of former NHL captains available in free agency, like Jamie Benn, Claude Giroux, Anders Lee, and Jonathan Toews. For various reasons, however, none of them seems likely to play in Vancouver.
Here are 11 other players available in free agency who the Canucks could target to provide some veteran leadership.
1. Jaden Schwartz
2025-26 stats: 47 GP, 11 G, 13 A, 24 PTS
Jaden Schwartz might be one of the most realistic middle-six veteran wingers for the Canucks to target in free agency.
The Wilcox, Sask., native has spent the last five years with the Seattle Kraken after being claimed in the 2021 expansion draft. For a Canucks team lacking talent on the wings, they could do worse than signing the former Stanley Cup champion to a short-term contract.
2. Jacob Trouba
2025-26 stats: 77 GP, 10 G, 24 A, 34 PTS
After basically being forced to waive his no-trade clause with the New York Rangers, Trouba has settled in nicely with the Anaheim Ducks.
The rugged, veteran defenceman hit double-digit goals this season for the first time since 2021-22. He also has experience as an NHL captain, a role he held for three seasons in New York before being traded.
3. James van Riemsdyk
2025-26 stats: 68 GP, 15 G, 15 A, 30 PTS
James van Riemsdyk has bounced around a lot in recent seasons. Could his next stop be with the Canucks?
The veteran winger, who turns 37 in May, has played for four different teams in the past four seasons.
He could also give Canucks players some advice on handling the pressure of being in a Canadian market, considering he spent the prime of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
4. Ian Cole
2025-26 stats: 77 GP, 3 G, 20 A, 23 PTS
You could argue that the Canucks never truly replaced Ian Cole’s presence.
During his one season with the Canucks, Cole provided a sound, defensive game, outside of the Canucks second-round matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. He was also thoughtful and articulate every time he spoke with the media.
5. Scott Laughton
2025-26 stats: 59 GP, 13 G, 6 A, 19 PTS
There might not be a more beloved teammate in free agency than veteran centre Scott Laughton.
“He’s the guy that’s always setting something up for the guys to have a dinner, grab a beer, whatever it is, it’s always something,” Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny told The Athletic. “He has a relationship with every guy on our team.”
Laughton, who has a young family, would likely want more than a one-year deal. But, he could conceivably be the Canucks third-line centre as they enter their rebuild.
6. Radko Gudas
2025-26 stats: 55 GP, 2 G, 11 A, 13 PTS
Could Vancouver corner the market on Czechia defencemen in the NHL?
Filip Hronek and Radko Gudas, who were teammates at the Olympics, are the only two regular defencemen from Czechia currently in the NHL.
Gudas, who’s currently the captain in Anaheim, is in the final season of a three-year deal worth $4 million per season.
7. Troy Stecher
2025-26 stats: 60 GP, 3 G, 10 A, 13 PTS
This is a homecoming Canucks fans would probably welcome.
Troy Stecher has carved out a journeyman-like career ever since leaving Vancouver as a free agent back in 2020.
Even though he’s remained in the NHL, Stecher never wanted to leave.
“I feel confident in what I’m doing on the ice,” Stecher told Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre back in 2020. “I’d love to do that here [in Vancouver] for the rest of my career.”
8. Nick Foligno
2025-26 stats: 50 GP, 3 G, 9 A, 12 PTS
The third former NHL captain to appear on this list, Nick Foligno, is at the tail end of a 19-season career.
He has experience mentoring youngsters on the Chicago Blackhawks. The 38-year-old also has experience playing in a Canadian market after spending the first five years of his career in Ottawa.
9. Colton Sissons
2025-26 stats: 62 GP, 6 G, 5 A, 11 PTS
North Vancouver native Colton Sissons is hitting free agency now that his seven-year contract is expiring.
The 32-year-old was part of a Nashville Predators team that went to the Stanley Cup Final back in 2017. He also captained Nashville’s AHL team before that.
10. Zach Bogosian
2025-26 stats: 41 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 PTS
If the Canucks are looking for a rugged defenceman to lead off the ice and protect teammates on the ice, Zach Bogosian could be a target.
Although he’s nearing the end of his career, the 35-year-old should be motivated to play another season. He’s currently 30 games away from reaching 1,000 in his NHL career.
11. Luke Schenn
2025-26 stats: 49 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 7 PTS
Luke Schenn has already had two tenures with the Canucks. Could a third be in store?
Schenn famously revived his NHL career with the Canucks in 2019. After winning two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he returned in 2021 for two more seasons.
The affable Schenn could conceivably provide a veteran presence without standing in the way of young defencemen pushing for playing time on the Canucks.