The Complicated Situation Surrounding Canucks Prospect Lucas Forsell

The Vancouver Canucks are in a tricky situation when it comes to prospect Lucas Forsell. Initially drafted in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the Swedish winger has yet to play a game in North America, electing to stay in Sweden and develop in Färjestad BK’s system. That being said, it is clear this management group is at least intrigued by Forsell as he was invited to Development Camp in 2023 and featured in an edition of “Building Blue” last month. Ultimately though, even if the Canucks wanted to sign him tomorrow, there are a number of factors that could make it very difficult for the organization to sign him before relinquishing his rights.

According to Tim Hiebert, who runs The Hockey News’ new Lineups page, Vancouver will lose Forsell’s exclusive rights on July 1, 2025, if he is not signed. Some may ask, why worry about this now, as the player’s rights don’t expire for close to a year? The answer is that because of the amount of contract the Canucks currently have signed, plus Forsell’s current deal in the SHL, this is anything but a simple negotiation.

Starting with Vancouver, the Canucks currently have 48 contracts signed. In total, a team is allowed 50, which means Vancouver has space for two more contracts. This number is a little bit deceiving as there are over a dozen prospects that still need contracts, including Melvin Fernström and Tom Willander. In the end, this means the Canucks will need to make some decisions, with one potentially being relinquishing the rights to Forsell.

Let’s say Vancouver elects to sign Forsell; there is another issue that needs to be solved. Back in January, he signed a three-year extension with Färjestad BK, which will keep him with the organization until the end of the 2026-27 season. While Forsell is still young, only turning 21 in September, this is a long time to hold onto players, especially for an organization that is pressed against the contract ceiling and has some key prospects that will need contracts over the next few years.

There is also the question of Forsell’s production in the SHL. Last season, he finished with seven points in 46 games while averaging 9:24 of ice time. Forsell also struggled to score in the playoffs, recording one point in four games, but he did see a slight bump in playtime, averaging 13:35. Now entering his fourth SHL season, Forsell will need to show he can be more consistent to ensure he continues developing correctly.

While signing Forsell may not be at the top of Patrik Allvin’s to-do list, it is something the organization needs to start thinking about. There is no question that Forsell has the potential to be a talented player, but is he the type of prospect the Canucks are comfortable signing and letting develop in Sweden until 2027. Ultimately, this won’t be an easy decision, which is why it most likely will come closer to when Forsell’s rights are about to expire.

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