The Vancouver Canucks are currently staring at the end of a 2025-26 season that many fans would prefer to leave in the rearview mirror. With the playoffs a mathematical impossibility and the team sitting at the bottom of the standings, the focus has naturally shifted toward next October. But before we get there, general manager Patrik Allvin and the coaching staff have a significant piece of unfinished business to attend to in Abbotsford: Danila Klimovich.
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Klimovich is currently playing out the final weeks of his entry-level contract. When June 30 hits, he will become a restricted free agent (RFA). For a player who was drafted in the second round back in 2021 and has spent nearly five years in the system, it is frankly baffling that he hasn’t been given a legitimate look at the NHL level during this lost season. The time for “over-ripening” is over. The Canucks need to see what they have in the 23-year-old before they have to commit to his next contract.
Evaluating NHL Potential Before the RFA Deadline
Restricted free agency is a pivotal moment in a prospect’s career. It’s the point where a team has to decide if a player is a long-term piece of the puzzle or a trade chip that has lost its luster. To make an informed decision on Klimovich, the Canucks cannot rely solely on reports from the American Hockey League (AHL).
The AHL is a different beast — grittier, more chaotic, and often less structured. We know Klimovich can score there; he’s currently chasing franchise records for goals in Abbotsford and has recently found a hot streak, putting up several multi-point games in March. However, the NHL is about pace, defensive responsibility, and the ability to process the game in a split second. By calling him up for the final stretch of the schedule, the Canucks can evaluate how his heavy shot and 6-foot-2 frame translate against elite competition. Is he a middle-six scoring threat, or is he a “tweener” who lacks the lateral speed for the big league? You won’t find that answer in the Valley.
Managing the Roster by Sitting Underperforming Veterans
One of the common arguments against calling up prospects late in the season is “roster congestion.” The Canucks currently have a veteran-heavy bottom six that has, quite frankly, underdelivered during this 21-win campaign. Continuing to dress veteran wingers who aren’t part of the long-term solution serves no developmental purpose.
Sitting a veteran for the final ten games isn’t a slight; it’s a standard operating procedure for a rebuilding club. Moving a veteran to the press box creates a low-stakes environment where Klimovich can be insulated by playing alongside established centres like Elias Pettersson, Marco Rossi or Teddy Blueger. Seeing how Klimovich handles the heavy style of play that management wants to implement is more valuable than watching a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) play 12 minutes of low-event hockey.
Capitalizing on a Recent Offensive Surge
Timing is everything in development, and Klimovich is currently playing his best hockey of the season. After a middling start that saw his production dip, he has exploded in March, looking like the hero of several Abbotsford wins. He is playing with confidence, using his release more frequently, and driving to the net with the “violent energy” scouts raved about during his draft year.
Bringing a player up when they are feeling it is the best way to ensure they don’t get overwhelmed by the jump in quality. If the Canucks wait until next year’s training camp, they risk catching him in a cold snap or a summer of rust. By pulling the trigger now, they capitalize on his current momentum and give him some valuable experience that could fuel his offseason training.
Qualifying Offer or Clean Break: The Final Decision
Ultimately, this call-up is about the June 30 deadline. If the Canucks continue to leave Klimovich in the minors, they are essentially flying blind into the offseason. To retain his rights as an RFA, the team must extend a qualifying offer. If they don’t, Klimovich walks away as a UFA, and the Canucks lose a second-round asset for nothing.
However, management might be leaning toward a clean break. If a brief NHL stint reveals that his defensive game is still too far behind or his skating hasn’t reached the necessary level, they could choose not to extend that qualifying offer at all. It is a tough pill to swallow, but it’s better to make that choice now with fresh data than to commit another year of salary and a roster spot to a project that has stalled. The Canucks owe it to their future to find out if Klimovich is a fit or a casualty of a new era.
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