"Now get Zadorov" "Say goodbye to Guentzel": NHL fans react as Canucks' Dakota Joshua re-signs with $13,000,000 extension

The Vancouver Canucks have re-signed Dakota Joshua on a four-year deal worth a total of $13 million over the next four years. The contract will run through the end of the 2027-28 season and will see Joshua paid $3.25 million a year. The Canucks GM Patrik Allvin announced the news on Thursday on the heels of a big season for Joshua.

Over 63 games played, Joshua set a career-high with 18 goals and 14 assists, outperforming his numbers from last year, where he scored 11 goals and tallied 12 assists. In addition, the center also had a big year defensively, logging a career-best 245 hits, which topped the 222 hits he tallied last season.

The news was generally well-received by fans after Joshua's impressive play helped make the Canucks' third line one of, if not the single best, in the NHL. In a press release from the Canucks, Allvin praised Dakota Joshua's development while speaking about his fit within the team:

"Dakota had a strong season for us and took some big steps forward in his game. We really like his size, his speed and physicality. He fit in well with our system and the way we want to play hockey and I look forward to watching him to continue to develop under our coaching staff."

Following the team's announcement going public, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman relayed the news to social media, drawing reactions from fans. While many were excited, others pointed out that the re-signing of Joshua may hinder their ability to land Jake Guentzel.

"Yeah!! Took a discount! Now get Zadorov and Guentzel," a fan wrote.

"Say goodbye to Guentzel" - Another fan said.

Others praised the move:

"Damnnnn, he had a great year too. Nice Canucks," one wrote.

"Good move by Vancouver," another added.

"Great for the team and player," one added.

Others provided some more humourous takes:

"Suck it Toronto!" one wrote.

Another posted a meme, as seen below:

Looking at whether the Canucks will be able to resign Nikita Zadorov following Dakota Joshua's signing

While there has been some hope that the Canucks will be able to land Jake Guentzel, one of the team's biggest priorities is re-signing Nikita Zadorov. During the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Zadorov's candid demeanor while interacting with members of the press was a hit with fans.

Despite that, there had been reports indicating that extension talk between his camp and the Canucks had become stagnant. While many Canucks fans are eager to see him re-sign with the team, so far, it has remained unclear whether or not a deal will come to fruition.

Zadorov is set to hit unrestricted free agency on Jul. 1 unless a deal is finalized. According to a recent report from NHL insider Rick Dhaliwal, who relayed a statement from Zadorov's agent, the defenceman is keeping an open mind on the situation between now and Jul. 1.

Given that it appears Dakota Joshua took a team-friendly contract, the door could be open for negotiations to pick up steam between Zadorov and the Canucks. In addition, the team will also be looking to make a run at 2017 Stanley Cup winner Jake Guentzel.

Guentzel, who is likely to hit free agency after a brief stint with the Carolina Hurricanes at the end of this season, will be one of the most sought-after players this summer. Given that, it will be interesting to see if the Canucks can bolster their roster with a big acquisition.