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NHL Free Agency 2018: Vancouver Canucks to sign Jay Beagle

By Dave Stevenson

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Jay Beagle #83 of the Washington Capitals kisses the Stanley Cup after Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Capitals defeated the Golden Knights 4-3 to win the Stanley Cup Final Series 4-1. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Jay Beagle #83 of the Washington Capitals kisses the Stanley Cup after Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Capitals defeated the Golden Knights 4-3 to win the Stanley Cup Final Series 4-1. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Vancouver Canucks are set to sign center Jay Beagle once NHL free agency gets underway 

The Vancouver Canucks are a rebuilding team hoping to add some veterans. Early in NHL free agency, it appears as if they’re going to add two of them. According to Elliotte Friedman, the Canucks are expected to sign free agent center Jay Beagle and wing Antoine Roussel. Beagle’s contract will reportedly be for four years and be worth $3 million annually.

Formerly of the Washington Capitals, the center is the only player in history to win a Kelly Cup (ECHL), Calder Cup (AHL), and Stanley Cup. Beagle has done very well for himself, especially considering he was an undrafted player. He impressed the Idaho Steelheads enough in college to get a tryout with them and play for them regularly.

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After that, the Washington Capitals and their AHL affiliate Hershey Bears were interested in him. He won two Calder Cups there before coming up to the NHL full-time. Beagle is one of the best face-off men in the league, ranking fourth in face-off win percentage last season.

However, the Canucks seem to be overpaying for him. Beagle brings a lot to the table. He can handle defensive zone starts and is an expert at winning face-offs. Beagle can also kill penalties and is a great guy for young players to learn from. His work ethic is second to none.

That said, Beagle is at best a fourth-line center. There’s no reason to commit four years to a fourth-line center. Nor is there any reason to give them $3 million a year. Luckily, Vancouver is a rebuilding team, so overpaying for a veteran isn’t the worst thing in the world.

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But if you’re going to overpay for veterans, at least make them someone who you can trade for assets. It would be surprising to see the Canucks be able to deal Beagle for anything in four years. Vancouver also gets an extra forward who will be eligible to be taken in Seattle’s expansion draft, assuming he doesn’t get a no-movement clause.

For updated NHL Free Agency coverage, check out our Free Agency hub page and our free agent tracker.

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