The Vancouver Canucks have announced that they have extended center Markus Granlund for the next two seasons.
After trading for Markus Granlund back in February, many fans wondered what the Vancouver Canucks were planning to do with the pending restricted free agent. Instead of going through a lengthy process that could have ended in arbitration, the two sides have agreed to a two year extension that will keep Granlund in Vancouver through at least the 2017-2018 season. He will be a restricted free agent after the 2017-2018 season.
Granlund had two goals and an assist with the Canucks after being acquired from the Calgary Flames. With the Canucks, he averaged 15:23 of ice time per game as their third line center.
From NHL.com:
"Granlund, 23, appeared in 16 games for the Canucks this season, registering two goals and an assist (2-1-3) along with six penalty minutes. Prior to being acquired by Vancouver on February 22, 2016, he also split time in 2015.16 between the Calgary Flames (4-3-7 in 31 games) and the Stockton Heat (5-4-9 in 12 games)."
He will make $850,000 in 2016 and $950,000 in 2017, meaning that he will have a $900,000 cap hit in each of those two seasons.
This is a decent move for the Canucks, assuming that they aren’t looking to contend next season. Granlund isn’t that great of a center and Vancouver still hasn’t decided if they’re rebuilding or retooling. If they do want to contend, however, they should probably look to get a better third line center than Granlund, who has been a negative possession player for his entire career. He hasn’t been given a full-time opportunity to start in the NHL yet, so next year will be a critical year in his development.
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