LATEST | Canucks linked to six free-agents for potential professional tryouts including a former Canuck

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Cooper Godin
August 10, 2023 (1:05 PM)

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There's no question that the Vancouver Canucks would like to add some depth to their forward group ahead of the 2023-24 season. Now, they could do that by promoting a couple of players from AHL Abbotsford, but there's also a good chance that they go down the PTO route in training camp.

Jeff Paterson of The Hockey News mentioned five unrestricted free agents that could be of interest to the Canucks, if they want to use PTO's this Fall.

"Perhaps they can find someone that can win them face-offs or kill penalties or play with the tenacity Rick Tocchet wants from his bottom six forward group. Players like Jujhar Khaira, Zach Aston-Reese, Danton Heinen, Noah Gregor and even old friend Tyler Motte are all still without deals for next season. Now, some of them may be able to ink contracts before training camps open, but others may be left without a place to play." Paterson said in his article on The Hockey News.

Noah Gregor and Tyler Motte may be the two most interesting names that Paterson mentions. Gregor, who's only 25-years-old, was not issued a qualifying offer by the San Jose Sharks earlier this summer and became an unrestricted free agent. He set a new career-high in goals last season with ten, while also throwing 97 hits and had 25 takeaways while averaging 12:58 time-on-ice per game.

As for Tyler Motte, Canucks fans know what he brings to the lineup, after he spent parts of five years with the team between the 2017-18 and 2021-22 seasons. At 28-years-old, Motte brings more experience than Gregor, with a bigger sample size in the faceoff dot, which is much-needed.

Which player would you like the Canucks to bring in on a professional try-out contract? Tyler Motte or Noah Gregor, or both? Let us know what you think in the poll below!