VANCOUVER — After his dramatic decision on free agency day to remain with the Vancouver Canucks instead of exploring other options, Brock Boeser and his family attended his nephew`s baseball game. This is a typical activity in Minnesota.
However, a larger celebration was planned for the following evening. Joined by his girlfriend, mother, sister, brother and his family, along with old friend and former teammate Troy Stecher, Boeser intended to take them out for dinner on the lake, traveling by boat from Richmond, B.C.
“We`re going to take the boat to the restaurant on the lake for dinner,” Boeser shared by phone from his lakeside residence just outside the Twin Cities. “So, that`s our celebration tonight.”
Boeser`s strong emphasis on family is a key factor explaining his surprising last-minute choice as National Hockey League free agency commenced on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old winger, who has spent his entire NHL career with Vancouver, had spent months mentally preparing for the possibility of leaving the city after contract extension discussions repeatedly failed to progress.
Boeser possesses both intelligence and a big heart. Intellectually and pragmatically, he understood that the business side of hockey might necessitate a move to a different city and team after dedicating eight years to the Canucks organization.
But emotionally, his heart remained tied to Vancouver, preventing him from fully embracing the idea of free agency.
Tristan Blackwood