It was a difficult few days for the Vancouver Canucks recently. However, just as the NHL offseason began, the team, led by star Elias Pettersson, secured a contract extension for Brock Boeser, in a move that surprised everyone around the league.
Contrary to expectations that he would leave the Canucks as a free agent, Boeser sealed his future in Vancouver with a seven-year, $50.75 million deal carrying a $7.25 million AAV. Pettersson can now count on having a key player by his side.
Boeser’s extension is crucial not only for the team’s young core, led by Elias Pettersson, but also to quiet rebuilding rumors. Even so, a candid statement from Boeser revealed that his future was very close to going in a completely different direction.
Boeser’s surprising admission about his extension with the Canucks
“In my head, I think I was fully set on going somewhere else. So I had kind of a list of teams in my head that I thought maybe would be good fits and then I just still was kind of uneasy about everything. And then they called and at the end of the day, I think my heart was still in Vancouver,” Boeser revealed, according to NHL.com.
Brock Boeser #6 of the Vancouver Canucks skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period in an NHL game
The Canucks’ key forward, now confirmed as an important piece for next season, admitted there was noise and controversy surrounding his possible departure from Vancouver. However, his loyalty and strong connection to the team ultimately motivated him to stay.
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Where could Boeser have gone?
Several franchises were closely monitoring Boeser’s difficult situation in Vancouver in recent days. In fact, the 28-year-old could have taken a completely different path, with teams like the Minnesota Wild, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and even the New York Rangers rumored to be interested in making a move for him.
