As one of the top centers of the 2018 free-agent class, Riley Nash will have no shortage of interest from around the NHL. However, one team has apparently already caught his eye: the Vancouver Canucks.
"(Joining a rebuilding team is) not something I would be scared of and I'm looking forward to talking to them," Nash said, according to The Province's Ben Kuzma. "We've done our research and it's pretty interesting. We're obviously aware of what's going on in Vancouver and I think they have a pretty good future ahead of them."
"They're not that far off and I don't think it will be a long rebuild."
The 29-year-old is coming off a breakout season in 2017-18, totaling 41 points in 76 games with the Boston Bruins, surpassing his previous career-high of 25. He's a very reliable defensive player as well, as he was one of two players this past season with at least 50 takeaways, but fewer than 20 giveaways.
Behind John Tavares and Paul Stastny, Nash is arguably the third-best center set to hit the open market on July 1, followed by pivots like Tyler Bozak, Derek Ryan, Kyle Brodziak, and Valtteri Filppula.
Like many teams, the Canucks are in need of help down the middle. After Bo Horvat, Nash would likely slot in as their second-line center ahead of Brandon Sutter and Sam Gagner. Young phenom Elias Pettersson is a natural center, but it appears as though he'll begin his NHL career on the wing.
A chance to play a top-six role might be awfully tempting for Nash, especially if the Canucks use their abundance of cap room to make him a very rich man.
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