In their annual evaluation of NHL contract efficiency for 2024, The Athletic’s rankings highlighted a significant leap for the Vancouver Canucks. After a successful offseason under the leadership of Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford, the Canucks surged from 18th place in 2023 to 5th in the latest rankings, marking the largest improvement in the league.
This is authored by Dom Luszczyszyn, meticulously assesses each team’s contracts by analyzing player performance against contract values, considering factors such as remaining years and total surplus value. Luszczyszyn’s model reveals that Vancouver’s roster is performing exceptionally well relative to their contracts.
Most of the Canucks’ contracts exhibit negative surplus value, with the exceptions being Tyler Myers and Nils Åman. Specifically, Myers is valued at $1.1 million above his contract, while Åman is $100,000 above his value. Despite these two contracts slightly exceeding their expected value, the overall surplus of just $1.2 million for a 24-player roster demonstrates efficient management and value optimization.
The standout performers in terms of surplus value are Quinn Hughes and Nils Höglander. Hughes, following his Norris Trophy-winning season, has a valuation of $14.7 million with an annual surplus of $6.9 million. Höglander, who scored 24 even-strength goals, is valued at $5.3 million with a $4.2 million surplus. Both players are anticipated to command significant raises when their contracts come up for renewal.
The offseason acquisitions also underscore the effective strategies of Allvin and Rutherford. The six new additions to the Canucks roster—Daniel Sprong, Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais, Derek Forbort, and Kiefer Sherwood—are all performing above their contract values, contributing surpluses ranging from $100,000 to $2 million.
Furthermore, recent contract extensions, initially met with skepticism, are proving beneficial. Elias Pettersson, Vasily Podkolzin, and Teddy Blueger each provide surplus value, with Pettersson at $800,000, Podkolzin at $400,000, and Blueger at $100,000. Additionally, Filip Hronek and Dakota Joshua’s extensions are aligned with the model’s expected value.
Overall, the Canucks’ performance in these efficiency rankings highlights the impressive results of their management team’s strategic moves over the past year.
