The Vancouver Canucks may be in the middle of a rebuild, but that has not stopped them from adding new players to their roster this offseason. Among the Canucks' newcomers from this offseason are Jamie Oleksiak , Brendan Gallagher , Paul Cotter , and Luke Schenn .
Yet, with the Canucks still having spots to fight for on their roster, it is fair to wonder if they could consider inviting at least one player to their training camp on a professional tryout (PTO) agreement. Because of this, they are interestingly being viewed as a potential fit for one of their former players.
In a recent article for Canucks Army, Stephen Roget named forward Curtis Lazar among the players who Vancouver should consider signing to a PTO.
"One can never really have too much coverage at centre, so although there are plenty of bodies there, perhaps the Canucks might want a more experienced option to try out," Roget wrote. "On that front, the pickings are admittedly a little slim. Most folks capable of playing a centre shift in the NHL are already snapped up. But there are a few kicking around out there worth consideration. Potential Candidates: Curtis Lazar, Rodrigo Abols , Luke Glendening , Tyson Jost , Luke Kunin ."
The idea of the Canucks giving Lazar a PTO is certainly an interesting one, as he previously played for Vancouver. Yet, with the Canucks needing more center depth, he could be worth taking a look at on a PTO.
If the Canucks brought in Lazar on a PTO and he earned a contract for the season, he would give them another solid option for their fourth line. Although the 31-year-old center does not produce a ton of offense, he plays a very heavy game and can kill penalties because of his steady defensive game. Due to this, he could help a rebuilding team like the Canucks in the short-term.
Lazar worked well in a depth role with the Edmonton Oilers this past season. In 45 games with Edmonton, the 2013 first-round pick posted four goals, six points, and 95 hits. Overall, he was a serviceable veteran depth forward for Edmonton in 2025-26, and he could be the very same for the Canucks if brought in for the season.
Lazar joined the Canucks during the 2022 NHL Offseason, as he signed a three-year, $3 million contract with them in free agency. The move was understandable at the time, as the Canucks' bottom six needed a boost.
While Lazar signed a multi-year deal with the Canucks, his time with Vancouver ended up being very short. He appeared in just 45 games with the Canucks during the 2022-23 season, where he posted three goals, five points, and 124 hits. His time with the Canucks ended at the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, as he was traded to the New Jersey Devils for a 2024 fourth-round pick.
While Lazar's stint with the Canucks ended quickly, it would be very interesting to see them bring him back on a PTO. He is the kind of heart-and-soul player that a rebuilding team like Vancouver should take a chance on. It would come with no risk.
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