The Vancouver Canucks were expected to go big-game hunting in free agency but a lot of the big game got picked off by other teams.
While the Canucks still signed a top-six winger in Jake DeBrusk, a lot of their early work in free agency was all about adding more depth with some of the smaller names on the market. At the same time, there's a clear philosophy in place, as they added players with a physical edge who also can play and have some analytical upside.
The Canucks signed Derek Forbort, Danton Heinen, and Kiefer Sherwood, all on short-term deals.
Derek Forbort: One year, $1.5 million cap hit
The 32-year-old Forbort is a 6'4", left-shot defenceman who joins the Canucks on a one-year deal with a cap hit of $1.5 million. In theory, he slots in behind Carson Soucy on the left side on defence.
Forbort provides a lot of value defensively, using his size and reach to protect the middle of the ice at both 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill, though he doesn't provide much of anything offensively. He was a defenceman I highlighted as a potential replacement for Ian Cole.
The question for Forbort is health. He dealt with a couple of injuries last season, one of which required surgery, that limited him to just 35 games.
"People should realize that Derek has been playing through two significant injuries," said Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney. "One for sure is requiring surgery, and the other is one that quite possibly could. So real kudos, and testament to the character of Derek wanting to be that ultimate team player and play through some significant pain and injuries."
On a one-year deal, there's minimal risk, and Forbort fits a lot of what the Canucks like in a bottom-pairing defenceman.
Danton Heinen: Two years, $2.25 million cap hit
The 28-year-old Heinen is from Langley, B.C., and comes home to the Canucks on a two-year deal with an average annual value of $2.25 million. He had 17 goals and 36 points in 74 games for the Boston Bruins last season.
This is a smart pickup by the Canucks as Heinen provides a lot of versatility. He can play in the bottom-six but has enough offensive pop to slot into the top-six if need be and could lineup alongside J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser.
Even if he doesn't fit in the top-six, he's got the speed and two-way game to provide a lot more value than his $2.25 million cap hit. He's adept defensively and is particularly effective on the penalty kill, where his quickness and reads help him close down passing lanes. At 5-on-5, he's a boon to puck possession and is dangerous in transition.
Among the 198 forwards who spent at least 50 minutes on the penalty kill last season, Heinen had the 20th-lowest rate of unblocked shots against and the fourth-lowest rate of goals against. In nearly 95 minutes of shorthanded ice time, he was on the ice for just four goals against.
There's a lot to like here. He essentially replaces Ilya Mikheyev at less than half of the cap hit.
Kiefer Sherwood: Two years, $1.5 million cap hit
The 29-year-old Sherwood is a hard-forechecking winger that should slot into the Canucks' bottom-six, likely on the fourth line. He can chip in a little bit of depth scoring and had 10 goals and 27 points in 68 games with the Nashville Predators last season.
It's worth noting that last season was Sherwood's first spent entirely in the NHL, as he had bounced between the NHL and AHL previously. But Sherwood more than held his own last season, earning his spot in the Predators' lineup with a versatile game, providing a little bit of value all over the ice.
Sherwood played a little bit on the power play, a little bit on the penalty kill, provided a little bit of offence, and contributed a little bit in the defensive zone. He didn't have a major impact in any one situation but those little bits add up into a pretty useful player.
The most important part of this deal is that Sherwood is a fit for the style that Rick Tocchet wants to play. He's got great wheels and plays a north-south game that involves throwing a ton of hits on the forecheck. He had 234 hits in 68 games, averaging 16.96 hits per 60 minutes.
That would have landed Sherwood second in total hits on the Canucks behind only Dakota Joshua and first in hits per 60 minutes. He has the potential to quickly become a fan favourite in Vancouver if he keeps that up.
Salary cap consequences of the Canucks' signings
Let's take a look at a prospective lineup with the new signings slotted in and the remaining gaps in the lineup. This could obviously change very quickly but here's where the Canucks stand after their first four signings in free agency.
First off, this is a 24-man roster, so one of these players won't be on the opening night roster. That will add a little bit more to their available cap space, bringing it up to around $5.5 million.
That's enough money to potentially add a top-four defenceman on the right side and sign a backup goaltender. Things are coming together for the Canucks.
