Article content
Picked up at the 2023 trade deadline by the Canucks to add offensive punch to the team’s blueline, the Czech defenceman was the perfect sidekick to Quinn Hughes this past season.
Before an injury in the second half slowed his production — and let’s be clear, he was dealing with an elbow issue for much of the second half, even if he didn’t want to acknowledge it — Hronek had proved to be a vital cog in the Canucks’ attack.
Even with his second-half slump, he built himself a strong case for a raise, whether through negotiation or via arbitration.
He tallied 48 points this season, a career high. He averaged 23:26 of ice time per game this season, the second-highest average of his career.
And his partner Hughes had his best season to date.
Hronek fits the Canucks perfectly.
But that may not mean he’s around to stay long-term.
The Canucks have been looking to re-sign Hronek for months, but there’s been little action there. And there may be more value, in the end, to flip him to another team, rather than committing to a contract that is above what Vancouver management would like to pay him.
“We want to keep him. We have put a contract offer out to him, which we feel is fair. So hopefully, we can get a deal done with Filip to stay here in Vancouver,” Canucks GM Patrik Allvin said in March.
Article content
Hronek’s agent Allan Walsh visited Vancouver during the second round of the playoffs, but obviously there is still no deal.
And so it was interesting to hear Sportsnet 650’s Satiar Shah muse on Tuesday and then again on Wednesday about Hronek’s future. Shah’s musing matches what this reporter has wondered aloud over the past few weeks on outlets such as Sekeres and Price, that the Canucks may look to move on from Hronek if they can’t lock him into a deal.
Some of the hesitancy may be stylistic: Does head coach Rick Tocchet really think his team can get by in future playoff runs with a Hughes-Hronek top pair?
Hronek wasn’t terribly impactful in limited minutes away from Hughes, so he really does seem like either he is Hughes’ partner or he’s not here at all.
Article content
And would Tocchet, who has an avowed preference for bigger defencemen, want to see a different partner for Hughes after watching his captain take a physical pounding in the playoffs?
To keep him a restricted free agent, Vancouver will have to make a qualifying offer of $5.28 million.
Hronek wouldn’t have to accept such an offer, indeed it’s unlikely he would. He has arbitration rights and given his production, his strong analytics and his heavy playing time, he’s likely to win a strong raise.
If the Canucks are left to go to arbitration with Hronek, the 26-year-old Czech could win a raise in the $7-million range.
And that sticker price may also be a factor in whether he gets traded or not. Surely there are teams out there who like his skill set, but do they see his skill set matching the wage?
Recommended from Editorial
Share this article in your social network
