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Vancouver Canucks: Re-Sign Radim Vrbata, Trade Jannik Hansen

By Jeff Godley

Oct 29, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Vancouver Canucks left wing Daniel Sedin (22) and right wing Radim Vrbata (17) and center Henrik Sedin (33) celebrate a goal against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeat the Canucks 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Vancouver Canucks left wing Daniel Sedin (22) and right wing Radim Vrbata (17) and center Henrik Sedin (33) celebrate a goal against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeat the Canucks 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 9, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Radim Vrbata (17) celebrates with defenseman Yannick Weber (6) after scoring a goal against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Louis Domingue (not pictured) during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Radim Vrbata (17) celebrates with defenseman Yannick Weber (6) after scoring a goal against Arizona Coyotes goaltender Louis Domingue (not pictured) during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /

One More Year to Re-establish Himself

So, let’s chalk up Vrbata’s awful season to bad luck and unfamiliar deployment. Is there any reason to give Vrbata another shot?

Yes — and doing so might be in the best interest of both Radim Vrbata and the Vancouver Canucks.

Why should the Canucks keep Vrbata? 

At the trade deadline Jim Benning was not able to get enough value in return for Radim Vrbata.

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Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise for the Canucks. At his age, Vrbata will likely only get one more long-term contract in his career. He won’t necessarily want that contract to happen this summer, when he will have the lowest possible value.

So the Canucks might be able to convince Vrbata to sign a one-year deal at, say, $3-4 Million.

In 2016-2017, a much cheaper Vrbata would show up to Canucks training camp highly motivated, wanting to turn this one-year audition into the best possible contract to end his career.

The Canucks can offer him a prime opportunity to do exactly that.

If the Canucks can convince Vrbata to take an inexpensive one-year contract, they just might get their 30-goal scorer back.

There is one catch for Vancouver: Vrbata will not want to stay if his deployment next season will in any way resemble this season. That’s a given.

So, how can they convince him to stay?

Next: What's in it for Radim Vrbata?

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