Boeser: Remaining with Canucks 'unlikely at this point'
Pending unrestricted free agent Brock Boeser doesn't expect to sign a new deal with the Vancouver Canucks.
"Honestly, it's unlikely at this point," Boeser told Sportsnet's Iain MacIntyre on Tuesday. "It sucks, it's unfortunate. I'm just trying to play good hockey, and then I'll worry about everything after that. We all know it's been a roller coaster of a year. There's been a lot of different things."
Boeser's in the final season of a three-year, $19.95-million contract and expressed frustration in February about a lack of extension talks. He drew interest at the trade deadline as a possible rental, but Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said any offers were below market value.
The Canucks also wanted to keep Boeser in their push for the playoffs, but the club was mathematically eliminated from contention Wednesday night with four games remaining.
Boeser acknowledged he isn't speaking with agent Ben Hankinson right now as he focuses on finishing the campaign on a high note.
"Yeah, I'm refusing to talk to Hank right now," Boeser said. "I feel like I'm playing a lot better hockey recently, and I don't want to get distracted. That's one of the things I've learned: When there's distractions, I don't play my best hockey. The mental aspect of the game is so important. This year, there's been a lot of distractions."
The Canucks have had a tumultuous season riddled with injuries and drama, most notably a feud between Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller that culminated with the latter being traded to the New York Rangers. The disappointing campaign comes on the heels of winning the Pacific Division and reaching Game 7 of the second round in 2023-24.
Boeser is likely to attract plenty of interest on the open market in the summer. The 28-year-old has 433 points in 550 career games and has eclipsed the 25-goal mark four times, including a personal-high 40 last season.
The Canucks drafted Boeser 23rd overall in 2015.