Scenario 5: The Blockbuster
The Colorado Avalanche has long been rumored to be looking to move defenseman Tyson Barrie, thanks to his high salary expectations and arbitration rights. To be exact, his new salary will likely go way beyond $5.5 million. Like, he might demand up to $7 million per year on a long-term contract. But he could be worth it.
A third-round pick in the 2009 Draft, Barrie just completed his third full NHL season. In the past two years, the 24-year-old had 25 goals and 102 points in 158 games on the blue line. Impressive, eh?
Barrie has struggled with his defensive play ever since he came into the league, but he can lead the offense from the backend. With Barrie on the roster, the Canucks could turn a weakness into their biggest strength: defense, more specifically the right side. Plus, the Canucks could try to turn him into a top-six winger like the Sharks have with Brent Burns before.
But what would it take?
I talked about the possibility to trade down if Vancouver cannot get Dubois at five. Well, here it is.
It is extremely difficult to say how much trading up costs. But, Eric Tulsky, former blogger and now analyst for the Carolina Hurricanes, came up with a model at Broad Street Hockey. To summarize, he gave each pick a value, and to get a fair trade, you combine picks to get to the value of the pick you are trading for.
Value of 5th overall: 49.2
Value of 10th overall: 36.5
Now how do we add Barrie to this? I believe a good comparable is the trade between Boston and Calgary last year, when the Bruins dealt their RFA to the Flames for a first-round pick (No. 15) in the 2015 NHL Draft and two second-round picks (Nos. 45 and 52). That adds up to a value of roughly 40, putting 10th plus Barrie at 76.5 — almost 30 more than the No. 5 pick.
That is where Jannik Hansen comes in. One of the Avalanche’s biggest needs right now is wing depth, and Hansen finished the 2015-16 campaign with 22 goals. So why not?
In addition to that, the Avalanche gets a prospect, if necessary. From Guillaume Brisebois to Brendan Gaunce, a lot is possible.
Next: 6 Canucks Free Agency Strategies
Losing Hansen is fine, because with Jake Virtanen, Brock Boeser and Anton Rodin, the Canucks should be set at the wing for the future. Plus, Brandon Sutter has played there before, so this should not be an issue.
Time to catch our breath — it was an exciting first day!