The Kraken are Liking Bobby McMann, and Should the Vancouver Canucks Overpay?

The Seattle Kraken appear keen on retaining forward Bobby McMann following his impressive performance since being acquired at the trade deadline. McMann has quickly made an impact, tallying seven goals and four assists in just eight games for the Kraken. While negotiations are still in early stages, there's an indication that Seattle wants to explore options to keep him. It's noted that McMann and his previous team, the Maple Leafs, were never close to an extension before the trade to Seattle.

Meanwhile, the Vancouver Canucks are reportedly exploring a strategic approach to free agency, potentially looking to sign certain unrestricted free agents (UFAs) to short-term, albeit overpaid, contracts. This strategy aims to bring in experienced, hardworking players who can contribute to team culture, mentor younger talent, and potentially become valuable trade assets by 2028 or 2029.

Potential targets mentioned for this strategy include forwards Michael McCarron, Colton Sissons, and Beck Malenstyn, along with right-handed defensemen Jacob Trouba, Connor Murphy, and Darren Raddysh. The proposed offers involve significant overpayment on two-year deals with limited no-trade clauses. For instance, defensemen like Trouba, Murphy, and Raddysh could see offers in the range of $8-10 million AAV, while forwards such as Malenstyn, Sissons, or McCarron might receive around $3.5-4 million AAV. These figures would represent a substantial increase (doubling, tripling, or even quadrupling) of their current salaries. The goal is to entice these players to commit to the Canucks for a shorter term, rather than seeking longer deals elsewhere, with the understanding that Vancouver would likely retain 50% of their salary if they are traded in two years.

In related news, the Canucks are also considering carrying three goaltenders next season to avoid losing prospect Nikita Tolopilo through waivers. This plan is complicated by the fact that established netminders Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen both possess full no-move clauses, limiting the team's flexibility.