Canucks’ Filip Hronek Reportedly Rejects Massive Extension Offer

With the Canucks having to soon shift their focus on bringing back Hronek, there was a report from Luke Fox of Sportsnet that Hronek rejected a massive eight-year extension worth $6.5 million per season, with the belief being that he and his team think they could receive a larger payday on the open market. While the Canucks have most of, if not all the leverage heading into contract negotiations, it seems like Hronek could be willing to hold out for a bigger deal either with an offer sheet from another team or could hold out until the Canucks are willing to pay him over $7.5 million per season.

What Teams Could Offer Sheet/Target Hronek?

Hronek is a solid defender who the Canucks will try and re-sign. However, if negotiations go sideways and Hronek begins to consider other teams, there are more than a few suitors for him in free agency. Teams like the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins are always willing to spend big and improve their defensive lineup, but I don’t think any of those three would be willing to give up draft compensation with an offer sheet. For any of those teams to bring him in, it would have to be via trade, and I don’t see the Canucks moving him unless a massive offer comes their way.

Realistically, if Hronek is willing to hold out for a contract north of $7-7.5 million per season, there are a few teams who could easily afford him. Rebuilding teams like the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, and Arizona Coyotes will all have the money to give Hronek what he wants, but I doubt he wants to play for anything other than a contender.

Realistically, I can see either the Detroit Red Wings looking to bring him back, or the Carolina Hurricanes making sense as a team looking to continue bolstering their defensive lineup in hopes of pushing for a Stanley Cup. They have the money to offer sheet Hronek and might have the assets to pull off a trade if they want to push the extension to that eighth year instead of just seven.

At the end of the day, I think the Canucks will find a way to bring Hronek back. He will have to drop his price to stay in Vancouver, but I don’t see a world where he doesn’t re-sign with the Canucks. I would predict an eight-year extension worth $7.25-7.5 million per season for Hronek, which keeps him below Hughes’ cap hit of $7.85 million. For now, the Canucks need to focus on trying to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history and put the extension discussions on the backburner so it doesn’t become a distraction in the postseason.