Allvin also signed Daniel Sprong in late July, 2024 and Vitali Kravtsov in August, 2025. While those didn\u2019t work out, it showed that Canucks management was working well into the summer under Allvin.<\/p>\n
Could something similar be in store for new Canucks GM Ryan Johnson?<\/p>\n
The free agent market is sparse at this time of year. But, as the Canucks proved with Suter, there are often a couple of hidden gems waiting to be unearthed.<\/p>\n
CHEK\u2019s Rick Dhaliwal reported on Canucks Conversation<\/a> this week that agents are calling the Canucks to see if there\u2019s a fit in Vancouver.<\/p>\n Dhaliwal floated former Canucks defenceman Ben Hutton as a player whose agent has reportedly called Vancouver. While there\u2019s a storybook feel to the idea, Hutton\u2019s isn\u2019t the player the Canucks should consider among remaining free agents.<\/a><\/p>\n But, there\u2019s one player available who the Canucks should be considering.<\/p>\n Why Canucks should target Tolvanen<\/p>\n It\u2019s a bit of a surprise that former first-round pick Eeli Tolvanen is still available in free agency. Among remaining players on the market, Tolvanen is on the younger side at 27 years old. He\u2019s also just one year removed from posting 23 goals and 35 points for the Seattle Kraken, something he accomplished while averaging just 14:03 per game.<\/p>\n Of those 23 goals in 2024-25, 21 came at even strength, the most among Kraken players that season.<\/p>\n Last season, Tolvanen\u2019s scoring output dropped, as he potted just 12 goals. However, he did register 36 points.<\/p>\n The Vihti, Finland native\u2019s role changed drastically in Seattle under new head coach Lane Lambert. After being used in more of a secondary scoring role with more offensive zone starts under previous Kraken coaches, Dave Hakstol and Dan Bylsma, Lambert used Tolvanen as a matchup winger.<\/p>\n Not only that, but Tolvanen\u2019s primary centre at five-on-five was Chandler Stephenson, who was statistically one of the worst defensive players in hockey<\/a> last season.<\/p>\n Eeli Tolvanen had three points in five games for Finland at the Olympics. (Stephen R. Sylvanie\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n The Kraken controlled just 41.3 per cent of shot attempts with Tolvanen and Stephenson on the ice last season at five-on-five. Without Stephenson, Tolvanen\u2019s shot attempt share jumped to 47.1 per cent, while Stephenson\u2019s dropped to 38.6 per cent when he skated without the Finnish winger.<\/p>\n In a different environment, Tolvanen has the chance to rectify his value.<\/p>\n If he can get away from a matchup-heavy role where he\u2019s paired with a statistically awful defensive centre, the 27-year-old has a chance to get closer to the 21 even-strength goals he scored back in 2024-25.<\/p>\n He also has value on the power play, where he led the Kraken among regulars last season with 5.14 points per-60. Tolvanen has also been a part of Seattle\u2019s penalty kill rotation over the last two seasons.<\/p>\n Eeli Tolvanen puts it right to the top shelf \ud83d\udea8 pic.twitter.com\/h4274FJs2p<\/a><\/p>\n![\"flames-tolvanen\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/flames-tolvanen.jpg\"\/ "\\"\\"")
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