Hockey moves fast and sometimes you don’t see the consequences at the time. Brock Boeser’s seven-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks made sense when he signed it. At 28, in the middle of his prime, he just wanted safety, comfort, a place he could truly call his own.
Then hockey did what it often does.
As part of an organizational pivot, the Canucks moved Quinn Hughes. The team’s captain and star defender were gone. And that changed everything. Young players like Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium and Liam Ohgren are now taking to Vancouver’s home ice. And what that means seems pretty clear. Suddenly the team seems to be rebuilding. Boeser, who expects a competitive roster, could now find himself in a very different role as one of the few veterans left to guide the youngsters.
Boeser could continue to carry the weight for the Canucks
So here’s the question: Does Boeser even want this? He has always been a scorer, with teammates around him to help him do so. Now, with a younger lineup, much of the pressure to lead – and continue to produce – can fall on him alone.
The dynamics in the locker room don’t make it any easier. Rumors suggest Hughes had tensions with Elias Pettersson. Once a star who put up huge numbers, the enigmatic Swede may not be a long-term building block. If Pettersson moves — some rumors point to Montreal — Boeser could find himself even more isolated in the locker room.
Add in the fact that his first four years are protected by a No-Move clause, and there is little flexibility. He will be in Vancouver for the foreseeable future, unless he decides otherwise.
Boeser’s Choice: Comfort vs. Opportunity
The question hanging over Boeser’s head: he undoubtedly likes it in Vancouver: the fans, the culture, the city. But he’s an American from Minnesota. Perhaps the thought will cross his mind to play closer to home or chase a cup elsewhere. Does he enjoy being the only veteran leading a young rebuild? Or does he want to stay put? He’s come of age in this city, but will he trade his lifestyle for a shot at hockey glory?
Vancouver is at a crossroads. The team leans toward youth and positivity, although there are glimmers of promise here and there. Boeser could be the heartbeat of this rebuild and guide a young roster with experience. Or maybe he sits back and watches the team take a new direction and wonders how things could have turned out differently.
Boeser is here to stay for now. Vancouver suits him, the contract protects him and the team is his. How he handles being the last veteran – or whether he starts to get unsettled – could be one of the more interesting stories in hockey in the coming seasons.
Related: Quinn Hughes grew frustrated with Elias Pettersson in recent years
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