Vancouver Canucks Trade Proposals: The Fifth Overall Pick
By David Joun
MONTREAL CALLS: The Possibility of Pierre-Luc Dubois
At the No. 5 slot, the Vancouver Canucks have Pierre Luc-Dubois penciled in as their favorite prospect (at least it seems, from all the scouting that Jim Benning did at the end of the season in the QMJHL). But they are not alone.
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Making a push to move up for the French-Canadian forward’s services will be the Montreal Canadiens. I cannot imagine the Canadiens not calling the Canucks about this pick prior to, and at the draft.
Montreal would most certainly be calling for the No. 4 pick, too. But the Edmonton Oilers want a top defenseman in return. P.K. Subban is not going anywhere, at least GM Marc Bergevin says. So here they are, calling the Canucks.
The timing of this deal is crucial. If the Canucks take the chance of making this trade before June 24th, they may end up fleecing the Canadiens — what if Edmonton takes Dubois and not Tkachuk at No. 4? Montreal will not be happy.
Pulling the trigger before June 24th, therefore, would result in a lower return for the Canucks. The Canadiens know that Dubois isn’t guaranteed at number five. But if the Canucks wait until the end of Edmonton’s selection to make this move, they may be stuck with Tkachuk.
With that in mind, here’s a pre-draft deal to consider:
The Canadiens could be looking to spend at this year’s free agency and for top-six talent. Acquiring Alex Burrows will add grit and character to the Canadiens’ bottom-six, eliminating the need to pursue a free agent to fill out the bottom-six. Taking salary back will greatly increase Burrows’s value.
Montreal has a few undersized bottom-six forwards (Sven Andrighetto and Paul Byron to name a couple) and would very much appreciate the sandpaper mentality French-Canadien Burrows brings to the ice.
Moving Salary: Alex Burrows
Looking at the latest Marc Savard trade that involved the Florida Panthers moving $4 million in dead cap space to the New Jersey Devils, the NHL set the price for salary cap dumps. $4 million for one season cost the Panthers a second-round pick in next year’s draft. The Devils inherited less than a million dollars in salary obligations, however.
In Burrows’s case, his $3 million salary is certainly bigger than Savard’s and his $4.5 million cap hit is, too. But considering Savard hasn’t hit the ice for the past five years and that Burrows had 22 points this past season, the market is still open for Burrows.
Drafting with the Ninth-Overall?
The Canucks, of course, would be looking to draft a guy like Logan Brown at No. 9, but are also solid options for the blueline. One of them WILL be available at No. 9. In fact, Brown occupied the ninth slot in our editor Janik Beichler’s latest mock draft.
The cap space that Burrows leaves behind will most definitely benefit the Canucks come July 1st, while the Canadiens will also be able to make moves in free agency.
The second-round pick will also be very welcomed as the Canucks could look to draft a few defensemen in the second round. Or they could pick a guy like Tyler Benson.
But this was just trading the possibility of drafting Dubois. Trading the actual Dubois, therefore, will be worth more. So, is it better to take a lesser return in view of a potential no-deal?
The Bottomline
Is it better to take a lesser return by trading before the draft, in view of a potential no-deal? Jim Benning, please don’t pull the trigger unless MTL gives you a lot more. Burrows can be moved on a later date, and there must be another way to get a hold of a second-round pick.
Next: PRE-DRAFT: CAROLINA CALLS