The 2023-24 season is almost underway, and Tyler Myers is still a member of the Vancouver Canucks.
Myers is entering the final year of his five-year, $30 Million contract signed in 2019, which pays an Average Annual Salary (AAV) of $6 Million. The team had found no success while shopping the defenseman, and here's what happened.
The Canucks paid a $5 Million bonus to the 33-Year-Old on September 15, which means the only owing to Myers would be $1 Million in real cash for the upcoming season. Meaning it's almost a perfect scenario for any team looking to reach the cap floor while saving some money.
Unfortunately for the Canucks, there are currently no teams actively trying to stay above the Cap Floor. Including San Jose which has a Projected Cap hit of approximately $78.5 Million, according to Puckpedia.
Myers for Labanc?
A potential Kevin Labanc for Tyler Myers trade has been rumored since early July. And now, we know why the trade fell off the rails.
According to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, the Canucks scratched the trade for the possibility that if the season went south, they could trade Myers at the deadline themselves.
Per Thomas Drance of The Athletic, Canucks GM Patrik Allvin had this to say when asked about potentially moving Myers.
"We have no intention to move him". He also added that the Canucks have other ways to be cap-compliant and the team was looking ahead.
For the Canucks to dump Myers salary, they would likely have to forfeit a second-round Pick for a team willing to take on the final year of his contract. Something that the team was not willing to give up.
Myers also has a 10-team No-Trade List on his contract, which would make it even more difficult to trade the defenseman if they had the intention of doing so.
The Canucks may wait for his deal to expire
Myers will become a UFA at the end of the campaign. Rutherford hinted that the Canucks may wait out the remainder of his contract.
“Moves that were made prior to me getting here, and I don’t even disagree with them… but it’s been a flat cap since COVID, that’s going to change next year, and we’re going to be… out of some contracts we’d prefer not to have,”
Should the Canucks trade Myers?
Yes
No
