Fresh off signing a three-year contract extension, Canucks general manager Jim Benning addressed the main question on every Vancouver fan's mind: What's the latest with restricted free agent Brock Boeser?
"I am continuing to talk with (Boeser's agent) Ben Hankinson," Benning said, per NHL.com. "We are trying to get some common ground. None of the RFA's have signed yet, so we're going to continue to work with him, and I am hopeful we can get something done here before camp so he is there for the start of camp."
Vancouver's training camp is scheduled to begin Sept. 13, with preseason games starting on the 16th.
"We have three more weeks to negotiate with Ben Hankinson about Brock and try to get it figured. I think the Bo Horvat (contract) happened like three days before camp (in 2017), so I still feel we have time to keep working on it and I'm hopeful it's going to get done."
Boeser is one of several star RFA's around the NHL seemingly at an impasse in contract negotiations. When the 22-year-old discussed his situation in July, he said he's confident everything will work out and the two sides will be able to agree to a new deal.
The Canucks have had an active offseason that's included the free-agent signings of Tyler Myers and Micheal Ferland, while also acquiring J.T. Miller via trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning. With all the new moves, Vancouver has a projected $5.08 million to sign both Boeser and fellow RFA forward Nikolay Goldobin, per Cap Friendly.
Injuries limited Boeser to 69 games in 2018-19, but he still ranked third on the Canucks with 26 goals, adding 30 assists.
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