Brock Boeser says last-minute deal with Vancouver Canucks ‘was meant to be’

Canucks forward Brock Boeser is shedding some light on the last-minute deal that kept him in Vancouver.

On the morning of July 1, Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser went to the gym, hoping to take his mind off the monumental decision he was about to make.

His contract with the Canucks was up, and there were several other teams eager to add the pending free agent to their roster.

“In my head, I think I was fully set on going somewhere else. And so I had a list of teams in my head that I thought maybe would be a good fit,” said Boeser. But when he thought of leaving Vancouver? “I just still was kind of uneasy about everything.”

As his agent fielded offers from interested teams, Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin called.

“That phone call kind of came out of nowhere, so it was definitely a shock to me,” said Boeser. “And I kind of raised my eyebrows. I was like, OK maybe we can figure something out here.”

In late February, the Canucks reportedly offered Boeser a new five-year, $40-million contract that the 28-year-old rejected. He figured that was the best deal he was going to get from Vancouver.

“When they called back, I kind of lit up even after everything that’s happened,” said Boeser. “I just listened to it, and, you know, it felt right when they started talking and trying to figure out a deal. I just started getting excited. And I just knew it was meant to be.”

Just minutes before officially becoming a free agent, Boeser inked a seven-year deal with the Canucks worth US$50.75 million. While the dollar amount and additional two years were big factors, it’s clear the right winger wanted to stay in Vancouver.

“I’ve said so many times Vancouver feels like my second home. It’s just so comfortable and I love it there. So maybe I can get a house there now,” Boeser said.

He also spoke about his love for Canucks fans.

“They’ve been so supportive of me. Not just with hockey, but away from the rink and that means the world to me,” he said. “Everyone’s so kind outside when you’re just out and about.”

Boeser says he’s eager to play under new head coach Adam Foote.

“We have a great relationship, and we’ve talked a lot and he was definitely a big reason why I wanted to come back, too. And I think he’s going to be a great head coach,” Boeser said.

He’s also ready to turn the page after the turmoil of last season.

“Obviously, we all know that there’s a lot of noise in that middle part of the year, and that was tough to play through. It’s tough to focus, it’s tough to get ready and compete every night,” he said.

“I think this year we can focus on really bonding as a group coming together and pushing for the same goal.”