Vancouver Canucks: Targets for Vegas in expansion draft

The Vancouver Canucks are expected to protect Brandon Sutter, which means they don’t present many intriguing options for Vegas in the expansion draft.

Leading up to the Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft, the only true question for the Vancouver Canucks was whether or not centre Brandon Sutter would be exposed or not.

Contrary to what Tyler Shipley here at The Canuck Way wanted, TSN 1040‘s Matt Sekeres reported that Vancouver will be protecting Sutter. So, the Vegas Golden Knights can forget about picking up the two-time 20-goal scorer.

As Mark Spector from Sportsnet pointed out, the Canucks don’t have a lot of depth in standout players. As such, their list of which players to protect will be easy — and Vegas won’t be getting their hands on a player like Sutter, Sven Baertschi or Alexander Edler.

So which players will the 29th-placed Canucks leave available to Vegas? Spector believes the Golden Knights will pluck Luca Sbisa. The only other realistic option is 2012 first-rounder, Brendan Gaunce.

If you’re general manager Jim Benning, which player would he like the Golden Knights to select? Furthermore, whom should Vegas general manager George McPhee select from the Canucks? Let’s have a look.

The case for taking Sbisa

Sbisa was part of the package sent by the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for the one-sided Ryan Kesler trade three summers ago.

It was expected that Sbisa would be a reliable second-pairing defenceman, but that hasn’t happened.

Nonetheless, Benning questionably signed him to a three-year, $10.8 million extension after his first season in Vancouver.

With only one year left on his deal that’ll pay him $3.8 million, Sbisa would come as a low-risk, high-reward option for Vegas. McPhee has to get experience on that blue line, and Sbisa may wind up a better fit there than he has been in Vancouver.

And if he never wants to buy a drink again any time he visits Vancouver, McPhee should take Sbisa. Fans would love him for taking this bad contract off the hands of Benning and company.

The case for taking Gaunce

Vancouver drafted Brendan Gaunce 26th overall in the 2012 NHL draft — and he hasn’t been anything more than a bottom-six forward. In 77 career games, he has just one goal and six points. Obviously, those numbers won’t sound very intriguing to the Golden Knights.

But Gaunce does have good size (6-foot-2, 217 pounds), and does bring some true grit to his game.

No, he’s not going to be a 20-goal scorer like Vancouver had hoped for by any means. But the Golden Knights may as well take the chance on him. He may end up being a top-six forward there, for all we know.

Vegas has to watch their cap situation, and Gaunce would be a cheaper option. He’s a pending restricted free agent and likely won’t command more than $1 million a year. If they’re looking to limit their budget, Vegas should just take Gaunce over Sbisa.

Conclusion

From a Vegas point of view, their best bet is to take Sbisa. They should draft the best player available, and Sbisa definitely has a better track record in the pro thus far than the inexperienced and inconsistent Gaunce.

We have to remember that the Golden Knights will essentially be stuck taking mainly bottom-six forwards and No. 5 or 6 defencemen from opposing teams. Taking Sbisa would at least give them a potential second-pairing blueliner. Gaunce gives them nothing more than a fourth-liner.

And if you are Jim Benning, president Trevor Linden or a fan? You simply hope Vegas takes Sbisa off the hands of the Vancouver Canucks.

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