The Vancouver Canucks are one of few teams that can sell at the deadline and still make the playoffs. There are three players in particular who might be good trade baits.
As of today, the Vancouver Canucks are third in the Pacific Division. Their lines are finally clicking and it seems like there is no need to make any more trades. However, the rookies would probably like to have a word in that conversation.
Jake Virtanen ranks last in ice time among Canucks with at least five games played, at 10:16 per game. Jared McCann has it a tad better, ranking 22nd at 12:34, probably thanks to Henrik Sedin‘s injuries that let McCann play on the first line.
The only way to give these guys more ice time is to get rid of veterans like Radim Vrbata and Alexandre Burrows. One thing I have heard several times in this discussion: “how do Virtanen and McCann deserve more ice time? They hardly even score while Vrbata is finding his stride again!”
Well, that is true — Virtanen only has five points in 24 games, McCann has 12 in 43. But look at it this way. If Daniel Sedin, the Canucks’ best goal scorer ever, played on a line with Adam Cracknell and Derek Dorsett, averaging 10 minutes of ice time, would he have 21 goals and 43 points this season? If Henrik Sedin centred the fourth line with Dorsett and Brandon Prust on his wings, averaging 10 minutes of ice time, would he have 28 assists and 37 points this season? I think not.
Rookies need to deserve their ice time. But having them on your fourth line with limited ice time and no time on special teams, does very little for their development to say the least.
That is why I suggest three trades that could help the Vancouver Canucks, as well as their proposed trade partners.
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