32-year-old defenseman Andrew Alberts spent half of the 2013 campaign listed as a healthy scratch, but that doesn’t mean he’s looking for a different opportunity now that his two year, $2.45 million contract has expired.
The unrestricted free agent is interested in re-signing with the Vancouver Canucks. That’s likely due in part to the belief that Alberts’ physical, shot blocking brand of hockey will appeal to new bench boss John Tortorella.
“There remains interest by a couple of teams and Andrew was hoping to come back to Vancouver,” Alberts’ agent, Kurt Overhardt told the Vancouver Province. “We especially think with the new coaching staff that he would fit in because he’s a big, strong warrior and knows his role.”
The two sides are expected to meet by early next week at the latest. The Vancouver Canucks have a touch over $5 million in cap space left and still need to re-sign restricted free agents Chris Tanev and Dale Weise.