Brock Boeser was prepared to walk away from the only NHL team he’s ever known. As free agency approached, the 28-year-old forward had quietly accepted the idea of starting over somewhere new—until one unexpected phone call turned everything around.
Just minutes before he was set to hit the open market, Vancouver Canucks GM Patrik Allvin reached out to Boeser’s agent, re-opening a door that both sides had seemingly closed. The moment shifted the veteran forward’s mindset entirely. He no longer had doubts. He wanted to remain a Canuck.
“That phone call kind of came out of nowhere, so it was definitely a shock to me,“ Boeser admitted, according to NHL.com. “But the way I felt when that phone call came is I told my agent, I was like, ‘get a deal done.’”
Emotional decision to stay where it all began
Shortly after the market opened, Boeser inked a seven-year, $50.75 million contract, carrying a $7.25 million AAV. The new deal not only extends his tenure as the longest-serving Canuck but also reaffirms his deep emotional connection to the city and franchise.
Drafted 23rd overall in 2015, Boeser has become a staple of the Canucks’ core. He’s tallied 434 points in 554 career games, including a career-high 40 goals in 2023-24, despite years of trade rumors and organizational turbulence. Now, he’s part of a group committed to returning Vancouver to playoff relevance.
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Locker room chemistry and belief in new era sealed the deal
Beyond sentiment, Boeser credited his teammates—Thatcher Demko, Conor Garland, and others—for urging him to stay. Their recent contract extensions and support made it clear that the core believes in what new coach Adam Foote is building.
“I had other guys in my ears, like Garland and Demko, pushing my buttons to come back,” Boeser said. “It obviously plays a big part to have such good friends and belief within the guys in the room.”
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After winning the Pacific Division in 2023–24 but falling short in the second round, the Canucks enter a new era with health, stability, and renewed optimism. For Boeser, the decision came down to gut instinct—and a feeling that his story in Vancouver isn’t finished yet.
