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Vancouver Canucks: 3 Trade Proposals that Make a Lot of Sense

By Janik Beichler

Dec 20, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Radim Vrbata (17) and player Alexandre Burrows (14) celebrate a goal against Calgary Flames goaltender Jonas Hiller (not pictured) during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Radim Vrbata (17) and player Alexandre Burrows (14) celebrate a goal against Calgary Flames goaltender Jonas Hiller (not pictured) during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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(EDITORS NOTE: CAPTION CORRECTION)Mar 31, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Slater Koekkoek (29) skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

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

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