Vancouver Canucks Trade Deadline 2015: Five Players to Target

A plethora of deals have been made in the lead up to Monday’s trade deadline, but it doesn’t mean the action has stopped on the trade market.

Several prominent teams, Chicago and LA amongst them, have made moves to upgrade the quality of depth in their respective areas. The Blackhawks added Antoine Vermette earlier this evening after acquiring Kimmo Timmonen from Philadelphia the day before. The Kings added the underrated Andrej Sekera after feeling the on-ice effects of Slava Voynov’s suspension.

Minnesota has positioned themselves favourably behind Devan Dubnyk’s resurgence. Now they’ve added Sean Bergenheim as a valuable middle-six forward and they’re playing their best hockey all season.

Winnipeg added another target that would’ve served the Canucks well in Jiri Tlusty. The price was fair – a third round pick and a conditional pick dependant on Winnipeg’s final standings – for a player who has 13 goals this year.

The Canucks shouldn’t have to feel a sense of expectation this year, despite the way they’ve kept themselves afloat in the playoff picture. They are a conundrum of a team that hasn’t forged much of an identity beyond “play well with the good teams, drop unnecessary points to inferior ones.

This is a team that remains committed to being competitive now and in the future. I think Jim Benning assesses this team as one that doesn’t need an immediate fix, as beneficial as that may be. He was on Evander Kane’s trail, but felt he would compromise the future of his roster by giving up one of his Big Three assets: Horvat, Virtanen and Jared McCann.

With that in mind, the plan should be finding someone who has contributed this year and is on a deal with some term on it – nothing beyond two or three years, though. The philosophy is to run four lines consistently and maintain an aggressive defence that plays a heady two-way game.

The pool of available players is, without a doubt, one of the worst crops in years. That will force Benning and his team to be creative in crafting a “hockey deal” that leaves the team better after it’s all said and done.

Look at the deal Calgary got for trading Curtis Glencross to the Washington Capitals this morning: 2nd-and-3rd-round picks. That is a hefty deal for a player who has nine goals this year. The Canucks have a few players with a proven playoff track record that they could sell at a similarly high price.

Here are five players that fit the mould the Canucks should be looking for.

Mats Zuccarello, LW, New York Rangers 

2014-15 numbers: 59 games, 12-23-35, 53.5 per cent Corsi For % (4.2 CF% rel), 2.07 points per 60

For the last few weeks leading up to the deadline, the general consensus was that the Rangers would be able to hammer out a deal with their underrated forward. Now, those sentiments have shifted all the way to the other end of the spectrum: Katie Strang of ESPN is reporting multiple teams have been notified he is available.

"Contract negotiations between the team and the pending unrestricted free agent have yielded little progress as Monday’s trade deadline nears and a source told ESPN.com that multiple teams have been told that Zuccarello is available.The Rangers and Zuccarello’s camp have a significant chasm to bridge on a contract extension for the diminutive winger and with the clock ticking and cap space at a premium, the team is expected to explore the trade market."

Ryan Callahan was dealt in the middle of contract negotiations last season, so it’s not out of the blue that Zuccarello could be dealt. It would be a foolish move on New York’s part as Zuccarello leads the Rangers in possession at even strength. He also lead the blueshirts in points last season.

The price would still likely be hefty, but I wonder if the Canucks would dangle a player like Nicklas Jensen who likely needs to see top-six minutes to be effectively utilized in his first few full years.

Lars Eller, C, Montreal Canadiens

2014-15 stats: 57 games, 9-8-17, 47.7 per cent Corsi For % (-0.1 CF% rel), 1.21 points per 60

Habs fans have shown frustration over Eller’s performance at times over the last few seasons, but he’s found himself playing on the left wing recently as Jacob De La Rose “shines as the team’s third line centre.”

Jan 31, 2015; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens center Lars Eller (81) falls on Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) during the second period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Admittedly, it’d be hard to see the Canucks making a move for Eller either. But these are the types of players that Benning is looking to add beyond this year. Eller is another example of a responsible, two-way centre that plays hard every shift. We talk a lot about downplaying primitive effects that players can’t control, but Eller’s “compete level” would be an excellent influence on some of the younger Canucks.

The Canadiens aren’t a possession-driving darling, due in part to Michel Therrien’s system and his reliance on Carey Price. Eller’s Corsi For % is right in line with Montreal’s forward crop as he posts a 47.7 per cent clip. However, that may be skewed because of his defensive zone starts – he’s second in forwards, starting 39.5 per cent of his shifts in the d-zone.

Again, the idea of acquiring Eller are low in-season, but there’s potential if the Canucks dangle the right assets.

Cam Atkinson, RW, Columbus Blue Jackets

2014-15 stats: 57 games, 13-12-25, 49% Corsi For % (1.8 CF% rel), 1.46 points per 60

As the Boston Bruins intensify their hunt for Atkinson to upgrade their speed up front, the Canucks should be looking for the same thing from the underrated player.

Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch has reported throughout the week that Atkinson the Blue Jackets are increasingly unlikely to get an extension done, opening up his services for interested teams.

The rumoured going price is Ryan Spooner and a 2nd round pick. Would the Blue Jackets go for a more straight up replacement (say, Jannik Hansen) and a lower end pick?

Peter Wiercioch, D, Ottawa Senators

Patrick Wiercioch is a player Jim Benning should be gunning for on a trade deadline day that doesn’t offer enough value to make a big move.

Wiercioch said he was open to a “fresh start” which seems to indicate that the Senators are trying to deal the defenseman. He’s 24, has a cap hit of just $2 million and his advanced metrics show a player who is more than capable as a top-four defenseman.

The Canucks can get themselves an under-appreciated asset for pennies on the dollar. It fits every category of a smart trade Vancouver would want to make: low price (3rd or 4th round pick); playing well this season; he’s only 24 that becomes an RFA after 2015-16. The Canucks could use the rest of the season to familiarize Wiercioch and watch him blossom next season.

Matt Bartkowski, D, Boston Bruins

If the Bruins aren’t satisfied with paying the price for players like Chris Stewart and Cam Atkinson, they could use their old connect to look at adding a couple of veteran Canucks for their playoff run.

If Curtis Glencross can fetch a second and third round pick in this year’s deep draft, the Canucks should be shopping Chris Higgins and Jannik Hansen’s names all over the league and stockpile the prospect system.

December 1, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Matt Bartkowski (43) moves the puck against Anaheim Ducks right wing Kyle Palmieri (21) during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

If they don’t want to go the picks route, Bartkowski would be another intriguing add on the blue line. He’s similarly underrated but brings a more physical game to the table. Bartkowski’s usual partner, Dennis Seidenberg, suffers a big drop in shot suppression without him. Seidenberg’s shot attempts against per 60 goes up seven shots away from Bartkowski, from 48 to 55.

Boston is hungry to make the playoffs and with some teams beginning to nip at their heels a bit, they may make an overreaction move. Benning should be there to pick up the pieces from his old buddies in Beantown.