Canax and Bozer gamble and show mutual beliefs in a three-year contract

Vancouver – It’s an extended bridge. Isn’t the bridge too far?

Brock Boeser’s three-year contract with Vancouver Canucks gave the National Hockey League team some time and a room to wiggle their salary caps, ending the 25-year-old Winger in a defeat. It brought some stability after a difficult season. Of his father in May.

The deal removes potential arbitration uncertainty, and Kanax may have been able to sue a restricted free agent on Saturday, signed by Bozer in 2019 at the expiration of the entry-level deal3. Effectively doubles the annual bridge contract.

But it’s also a bet on both sides.

By accepting a three-year term instead of a one- or two-year contract, Bozer improves and improves the next three seasons by abandoning one of the seasons covered by the unlimited free agency. I’m betting on getting enough goals to command. An elusive long-term contract when he turns 28.

Canax is betting that Bozer will have a clearer focus on recovering from the volatile 46-point campaign of the past season and earning his new annual salary of $ 6.65 million.

“I think this shows that Brock Boeser is here committed to Vancouver Canucks and what we want to achieve,” General Manager Patrick Allbin told reporters in a zoom call late Friday. rice field. “I think Brock is in a good place. He knows he’s a good hockey player and he’s always been supported by the ownership, management, coaching staff and teammates here. I know. This shows that Brock wants to be the majority of Vancouver Canucks moving forward. “

Bruce Boudreau’s head coach responded more enthusiastically to Bozer’s re-signature. This has found a surprisingly busy Canadian day for Canax. , One-way contract.

“I’m really happy with the block,” Budlow told Sportsnet. “I’m really happy that this isn’t hanging in his head anymore. And I’m really happy for us. Everyone knows he has the ability to be a great player. And I think it must have been anomalous last year. Many good players will experience that one year’s anomaly. He had a reason (because his father’s health was deteriorating) but still. It should be noted.

“I think he’s very hungry to play now, as you can see the block bossers two and three years ago. He’s probably really excited to sign the deal. I know, and I know he wanted to come back to us. We want people who want to be here, and I know he I know I wanted to be here. “

Bozer appeared to be heading for the star when he scored 29 goals in 62 newcomers in 2017-18 and was runner-up in the Calder Memorial Trophy vote. However, his season ended with a serious back injury, which affected him before Minnesota scored 23 goals and 49 points in 56 games during the 2021 pandemic shortening campaign.

He needs to score 30 goals in the NHL, but he focused on it as the organization rebuilt this year under Allvin and President Jim Rutherford is trying to move talented young players beyond thinking. The whole game needs to be promoted and improved. Of personal achievements.

“He obviously had a tough time on the ice last year,” Allbin said of Bozer. “Here I hope we can create an environment where players can push themselves up and raise standards and see the growth of each and every one of them. They can do that. They are a group of very talented players. They just need to be pushed and they need to have the right mindset-more winning mindsets and the sacrifices you have to make to succeed every day. “

Boudreau’s coaching staff will play a major role in achieving this.

Yeo, a former head coach in Minnesota and St. Louis, was hired as a senior assistant to Budlow to replace Scott Walker, who chose not to return to Canax for family reasons. However, the club became NHL staff on Friday after Abbotsford Canux head coach Trent Cull left key assistant Brad Shaw to become an associate coach under John Tortorella in Philadelphia. We also announced that we were promoted.

Former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Jeremy Colliton will take over Abbotsford’s AHL team. Canax announced last week that Dylan Crawford was hired as a video coach. The incumbent staff at Boudreau are assistant coach Jason King and director of goalkeeping Ian Clark.

Rutherford said at a press conference at the end of the year that Kanax needed more “structure” despite finishing seasons 32-15-10 under Budlow, and management would work with Budlow to improve staff. Stated.

Yo wasn’t at the top of the management’s list of coaching candidates, but was Budlow’s first choice. After many interviews and due diligence, Allvin agreed that a 48-year-old woman who had spent the last three seasons as an assistant in Philadelphia would be a good senior assistant in Vancouver.

Yeo is considered a very detailed technical coach.

“I think we really improved the coaching staff and the group. That’s Bruce’s feeling,” Allvin said. “In the end, I think Bruce and I are working together here (and) I want to make sure Bruce works with the right people in his day-to-day work. Bruce was able to do this. When I was really excited. “

“First of all, we talked to so many people,” Budlow said. “It’s back to Mike. This guy is a great communicator and he’s very hockey savvy. And he did everything. I thought he was right for me, but you Please help me guide me, as I know.

“I want an energetic and positive coaching staff and a staff who can really be with him, and I think that’s what we’re getting with him.”

With Bozer’s signature, the biggest problem Allvin is facing is the future of Kanax’s top forward, JT Miller, in addition to next week’s entry draft and next week’s free agent in Montreal. The 99-point scorer enters the final year of the contract, but at the age of 29, it can be too high for the team to re-sign the 7-year or 8-year contract.

Allvin reiterated on Friday that management did not feel that Miller’s re-signature or transaction deadline was imminent.

“We want to keep him here in Vancouver. I expect it,” he said. “Ideally, we want to close the deal here today. But if that doesn’t happen, we’ll continue to talk and see what the best option is. That’s a lot of last year’s contracts. Is that the player is playing. “