Vancouver Canucks Could Target Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog
The Vancouver Canucks have been looking for scoring help since the beginning of the season. Finally, two options have become available.
Many Vancouver Canucks fans were opposed to the idea of trading for Buffalo Sabres winger Evander Kane. So far this season, however, Kane was the only (known) forward the Canucks actively pursued. But that may have changed.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Colorado Avalanche are prepared to move core players, including captain Gabriel Landeskog and first-line centre Matt Duchene.
Depending on the Canucks’ preferences, both Duchene and Landeskog could be extremely interesting for a potential trade.
Gabriel Landeskog
Landeskog would be a great fit for the second-line left wing position that Vancouver wanted Kane for. While Daniel Sedin, Sven Baertschi and Markus Granlund are playing good hockey, Landeskog would definitely be an improvement. Plus, he would give Vancouver more flexibility and depth in case of injuries — which seem to happen very consistently.
A six-foot, 207-pound winger, Landeskog provides more than scoring. The Swede is a strong two-way player and a leader on and off the ice. Prior to Connor McDavid becoming the Edmonton Oilers’ captain, Landeskog was the youngest captain in NHL history.
But, Landeskog does provide scoring as well. In 390 career NHL games, Landeskog has 109 goals and 262 points. He might not be a Cup contender’s top scorer, but he can consistently put up 50 points or more, even on an average team.
Matt Duchene
Duchene, on the other hand, could be the post-Sedin No. 1 centre. Henrik Sedin is still a top-three scorer on the Canucks, but it is time for change. The twins won’t be around forever, and they would likely be better suited for a second-line role.
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Then there is Bo Horvat, who is currently the Canucks’ top scorer and turning into an NHL star. But, again, adding Duchene would give the club more flexibility and an injury insurance. Plus, Duchene has played on both the left and right wings for the Avalanche and could play that same role on the Canucks as well.
Avalanche fans say Duchene, the third-overall pick in the 2009 draft, did not live up to expectations. However, the centre 169 goals and 407 points in 536 NHL games, with a career-high of 70 points in 70 games, and was a world champion and Olympic gold medal winner with Team Canada.
Duchene could boost the Canucks’ offence — or that of any other NHL club.
The Cost
As always, the cost is the most difficult part. A Kane trade, for example, didn’t work out because the Sabres asked for too much.
Friedman noted that a Landeskog and/or Duchene deal would have to include good, young defencemen or prospects. No surprise here.
"If you want to come at [the Avalanche] with good, young defencemen or prospects, [they] are prepared to listen. But the packages are going to have to be big because they look at both [Duchene and Landeskog] and see good players signed to good contracts."
The price for a young defenceman was somewhat set by the offseason trade that sent Edmonton Oilers winger Taylor Hall to the New Jersey Devils for D-man Adam Larsson.
So, who could be “the Canucks’ Larsson”?
Unfortunately, there is only one answer to that: Ben Hutton. The 23-year-old is steadily developing into a consistent top-four defenceman for the Canucks.
Hutton is no Larsson, but Duchene and Landeskog are no Hall either. It could work.
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Still, the Canucks might have to add, despite sending one of their most promising blueliners to the Avalanche.
Are they willing to do that?