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Vancouver Canucks: 5 Potential Trade Destinations for Radim Vrbata

By Janik Beichler

Dec 28, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Radim Vrbata (17) skates against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Rogers Arena. The Los Angeles Kings won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Radim Vrbata (17) skates against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Rogers Arena. The Los Angeles Kings won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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3. Tampa Bay Lightning

Why they need Vrbata: Before the season, many media outlets and fans predicted the Tampa Bay Lightning to be a top-three team in the Eastern Conference. However, things didn’t quite go as planned. Star centre Steven Stamkos has “only” 35 points in 44 games, Tyler Johnson sits at 14 points in 31 games. The rest of the team isn’t scoring as much as they did last season either.

It is not like the addition of Vrbata could change that right away, but another scoring winger never hurts. The Lightning is currently tied with the Canadiens, holding the top wild card spot. Something needs to change if they want to stay there — or even get back into a divisional playoff spot.

Where Vrbata would slot in: Tampa Bay is a club that would acquire a rental to improve secondary scoring. Vrbata is not a guy that would move right into their first or even second line. He could, however, push Ceric Paquette down to the fourth line and play as a third-line left winger.

The Lightning’s current second-line left winger is Alexander Killorn, who has 18 points so far this season, so his position would be an option for Vrbata as well.

Next: 4. Pittsburgh Penguins

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