Vancouver Canucks: 3 Trade Proposals that Make a Lot of Sense
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.
Next: Vancouver Canucks - Boston Bruins
Vancouver Canucks – Boston Bruins
Why the Canucks should do it: Jesse Gabrielle might not be known too well in Vancouver, so let’s hit this off with a scouting report by Curtis Joe of Elite Prospects, who describes the forward quite well:
A gritty winger who plays with an edge and has a nose for the net. Plays an agitative style and is very effective on the forecheck. Possesses good skating ability and is able to evade larger opponents with ease. All-in-all, a scrappy, skilled winger that can be difficult to play against.
Canucks GM Jim Benning likes to bring in players rather than draft picks, and Gabrielle would be an exciting acquisition. The 18-year-old was selected 105th overall by the Bruins in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and acquired by the WHL Prince George Cougars following the draft.
Gabrielle is a gritty winger who combines physical play with good skating and an outstanding shot. He is a lightning-fast winger with a heavy, accurate snapshot. In 46 games this season, Gabrielle has 28 goals and 47 points — as well as 65 penalty minutes.
He may be a fourth-round pick, but the Bruins might have made a big steal here.
Now, why would the Canucks ship Dan Hamhuis to Boston? There is no doubt that Hamhuis is still an important player for Vancouver on and off the ice. But, he is steadily declining and will likely be released into free agency this summer. The Canucks can get a nice return and leave Hamhuis’ spot to Alex Biega, who is doing his job well.
Why the Bruins should do it: Last offseason, the Bruins got rid of their best defenceman, Dougie Hamilton. Even without him, the Bruins defence is something the Canucks can only dream of. Still, it can be improved.
The Bruins are giving guys like Joe Morrow and Zach Trotman a chance, which is obviously great for those players and the Bruins, but they might want some improvement on the blue line to find success in the playoffs.
Wait, Hamhuis would be an improvement on the blue line?
Yes. Hamhuis is one of the most underrated players on the Canucks roster. As mentioned above, he is steadily declining but can still be an impact player. You can find a full article on Hamhuis’ importance here.
Next: Vancouver Canucks - Tampa Bay Lightning
Vancouver Canucks – Tampa Bay Lightning
Why the Canucks should do it: Radim Vrbata recently found some chemistry with Sven Baertschi and Bo Horvat on the second line. Still, it might be time to say goodbye.
Vrbata is the one player standing in Virtanen’s way. That does not necessarily mean that Virtanen would move up to the second line in case of a Vrbata trade, but he would at least make it up to the third line. Virtanen needs ice time, and he won’t get much of that as long as Vrbata is around.
Related: 5 Possible Trade Destinations for Vrbata
Slater Koekkoek, the Lightning’s 10th overall pick in 2012, is not quite working out as planned. He made his NHL debut last season but has only appeared in two more games since. He is a member of the AHL Syracuse Crunch where he does a decent job but is far from outstanding. A change of scenery might help him make the jump.
Koekkoek is a very mobile defenceman with good offensive skills, who also possesses the size coaches want to see in an NHL D-man. At 6-foot-2 and roughly 200 pounds, Koekkoek has a good frame but doesn’t use it enough. He is a solid all-around D-man with decent potential that he may or may not reach — no matter where he plays.
Why the Lightning should do it: Tampa Bay is stacked on offence, but their best scorers — including Steven Stamkos and Tyler Johnson — are struggling a little. Vrbata could play on Johnson’s wing and bury some of his passes.
Vrbata only has 18 points in 42 career playoff games, which is something many people like to state when talking Vrbata trades. However, nine of those games were in his rookie season and the majority of the rest for the Phoenix Coyotes, who were never a real contender. On a team like the Lightning, he could contribute a lot of offense in the top or bottom six.
The Lightning’s defence is also doing alright. They might need a prospect or two to make the jump sometime soon, but who knows if Koekkoek can be that guy — and who cares if Tampa wins a Stanley Cup.
Vrbata is not the one guy who will bring a Cup to Tampa, but he could end up being an important piece in a long playoff run.
Next: Vancouver Canucks - Chicago Blackhawks
Vancouver Canucks – Chicago Blackhawks
Why the Canucks should do it: It is a similar story as that of Vrbata. Burrows is taking up a roster spot that could and probably should be Virtanen’s.
The Blackhawks don’t have any prospects that would fit in this trade, so a pick will have to do. Burr would be missed, but if we simply look at him as a player instead of a person with a great history in Vancouver (the NHL is a business after all), he is expandable.
Burrows’ contract does not expire until next summer, so the Canucks would likely have to retain some salary.
Why the Blackhawks should do it: Burrows is still a good skater, he still possesses good puck skills and he still knows how to put the puck in the net, even though he doesn’t do that as frequently as he used to anymore. A third-round pick is not much, and the Blackhawks want to do anything to keep their dynasty alive and win another Stanley Cup.
Burrows can certainly be compared to Phoenix Coyote Antoine Vermette, who helped the Hawks to a Stanley Cup last year. He would play a small, yet important role somewhere in the bottom six.
As we all know, Burrows is not the most popular player around the league. However, that agitator role can be an important one in the postseason, making Burrows a great bottom-six option in the playoffs. He also has 19 goals and 34 points in 70 playoff contests.
Next: The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
Even though Canucks GM Jim Benning deserves the nickname “Trader Jim”, it seems unlikely for him to trade all three of the mentioned players. Still, let’s take a look at what a lineup without Vrbata, Burrows and Hamhuis could look like — and decide if trading all three would work out in theory.
Sedin – Sedin – Hansen
Baertschi – Horvat – Sutter
Etem – McCann – Virtanen
Prust – Vey – Dorsett
Cracknell, Zalewski
Edler – Tanev
Hutton – Sbisa
Bartkowski – Weber/Pedan
If a youngster line of Emerson Etem, McCann and Virtanen is too much, Hansen could move down to the third line, with Sutter going up to play with the Sedins and Virtanen with Baertschi and Horvat — which is at least a little bit less of a rookie line.
The Canucks have been decently successful without Brandon Sutter, so they should be able to keep that up with Sutter back in the lineup for Vrbata. Prust for Burrows is definitely a downgrade, but it would be acceptable. The defence would be the same it has been for a while now.
I will admit, that would be a pretty terrible playoff team. Then again, the Canucks’ current team is not much better.
Next: Canucks an Option for Steven Stamkos?
Jim Benning and Trevor Linden know that. But they are in the unique position to sell some veterans and stay in the playoff race anyway. With the above trade proposals, they could bring in two talented players and a draft pick for this year. At the same time, they can develop their young players — Horvat, Etem, Baertschi, McCann, Virtanen — in a winning environment.
That’s no rocket science. It’s simple asset management. Now go work your phone, Mr. Benning.