To be honest if i was gillis I would try to get him signed this season yet preferably on a year or two year deal, in a weak free agency pool and a cap going up, some team (oilers?flames?) would likely take a chance on him and overpay.
This is one situation i hope gillis is not patient with, right now he has no leverage but if he starts eyeing free agency one team out west might be willing to take a shot at him. He's surely impressed a few teams hes played against, fans of other teams have commented on how good hes looked, surely gm's seen it as well.
I could be wrong, nobody even wanted raymond but I assume it had more to do with the cap, and i also think santorelli is a more well rounded player. I would like him back next year and wouldnt want another team getting designs on signing him close to free agency.
Have to think if botchford was accurate and surgery was inevitable and the canucks continuing to try to get more opinions to avoid surgery is a good sign what he means to management and the team.