The Vancouver Canucks are facing a critical deadline as they risk losing the rights to two of their Swedish draft picks if they don’t finalize contracts by Sunday.
According to NHL rules, teams must sign European players drafted in 2021 before June 1, or their rights will expire. This rule applies to prospects selected before age 20. For Vancouver, this deadline looms over winger Lucas Forsell and defenseman Hugo Gabrielson.
Gabrielson, selected in the sixth round (169th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft, is a 22-year-old left-shot defenseman who has spent nearly his entire post-draft career in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier professional league. Although he made a brief one-game appearance in the SHL with Frolunda HC in 2021, the bulk of his experience has come with Vastervik IK and Nybro Vikings IF. Over four seasons, Gabrielson has recorded 10 goals and 40 assists for 50 total points.
Despite consistent playing time in Sweden, Gabrielson is not considered slide-eligible under NHL rules, which means his entry-level contract would begin immediately upon signing. Adding to the complication, his current contract in Sweden runs through the 2026-27 season. These factors suggest that the Canucks may be hesitant to offer him a deal, especially with no immediate plans for him in their North American system.
Forsell, taken in the seventh round (201st overall), has had a more promising trajectory but still hasn’t developed at the pace the organization might have hoped. The 21-year-old winger has played in the SHL since 2020-21 and showed flashes of potential during the 2022-23 season, scoring 11 goals and 13 points in 35 games for Farjestad BK. However, his performance has declined since, with only 16 points (eight goals and eight assists) in his last 92 regular-season appearances. While he brings professional experience that could benefit the Canucks’ AHL affiliate, it’s unclear whether that’s enough to earn him an NHL deal.
The Canucks currently have 18 open contract slots, but many are expected to be used on pending free agents and prospects like Brock Boeser, Pius Suter, Aatu Raty, Max Sasson, and others. As the deadline nears, the team will need to weigh whether Forsell and Gabrielson are worth investing in or if their development has stalled too much to warrant a contract.
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