Vancouver Canucks Trade Proposals: The Fifth Overall Pick

With the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals, the time has come for the Vancouver Canucks to shake up the league once more with big trades at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

The Vancouver Canucks watched in reserved bitterness as the Pittsburgh Penguins hoisted the Stanley Cup with ex-Canucks Nick Bonino and Mike Sullivan. Is Vancouver still kicking itself for trading for Brandon Sutter? I am still not making the final verdict yet.

That being said, if GM Jim Benning does not want to feel uneasy for the next decade to come, he must make the right choice with the fifth-overall pick at this year’s NHL Entry Draft. As of right now, the fate of the fifth-overall pick is somewhat indirectly in the hands of the Edmonton Oilers for they hold the fourth-overall pick.

Let’s get straight to the point here. The Canucks have two choices to make. The first is whether to trade the fifth-overall pick or not, and the second is the timing of the potential trade. If Trader Jim indeed decides to offer up the pick, the timing of this decision will be crucial.

Will he pull the trade before a single pick is made or after the first four selections are made? Of course, nothing will be so simple when June 24th rolls around and all the GMs, the scouts, the commissioners, the agents, and the players are gathered on the draft floor.

But this we know for sure, that trading up in this year’s draft will cost a fortune for the Canucks and solidify Jim Benning spot as one of the most daring GM’s in the league.

Already Near the Top: Nowhere Else to Go

Trading with the Edmonton Oilers and giving up assets to a division rival on the rise would be the least sensible thing to do, to move up a single spot for the sake of a potential Pierre-Luc Dubois over Matthew Tkachuk.

Trading with the Columbus Blue Jackets is also not the smartest move to make. Despite teams already calling the Blue Jackets about their pick at third overall (the Jesse Puljujarvi pick, supposedly), Columbus seems to have their eyes set on drafting the Finn in hopes of developing him into the franchise center that they have lacked for so long.

The Jackets are deep down the wings and their prospects are going strong on the blueline, making veterans like Fedor Tyutin expendable. Although we don’t know how much the Jackets want, seeing that they want a franchise center should be a reason enough for Benning not to consider trading with the Jackets this year.

Honestly, which centerman can Vancouver give up? Brendan Gaunce? Brendan Sutter? Bo Horvat? The first likely isn’t nearly enough while the latter two could work for Columbus. But that is insanity. Trading a Dubois and a young, proven top-six player for a Puljujarvi would be a great mistake.

The Canucks may have other pieces to offer, but Columbus needs nothing else, just centermen. The only way I see a Columbus-Vancouver trade happening is if the Canucks become the recipient of a massive contract like Tyutin’s while giving up extra assets, like this:

Please don’t consider that as a serious trade offer. I simply wish to point out the folly of trying to trade up from the fifth-overall slot. Don’t even mention the Winnipeg Jets or the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Instead, please consider the following trades that could become real by the end of the day on June 24th. Moving down gives the Canucks a lot of room to maneuver, asset-wise and salary-wise.

Next: PRE-DRAFT: MONTREAL CALLS

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

CAROLINA CALLS: Replacing Eric Staal with Dubois?

The Carolina Hurricanes need a number-one center after the decline and departure of once-elite Eric Staal. The Canucks won’t be giving up Bo Horvat or Henrik Sedin, but if the No. 5 pick means Pierre-Luc Dubois, the Canucks and the Canes could work something out.

I hope that it is obvious the Canucks need young left wingers. The defense is overflowing with under-26’s and the right side is getting better and better thanks to Anton Rodin, Jake Virtanen, and prospect Brock Boeser. Down the middle, the middle-six is secure. To the left? It’s Mr. RFA Sven Baertschi and none else.

Enter Sabastian Aho, the star Finnish center who played pivot for Jesse Puljujarvi and Patrik Laine for Team Finland at this year’s World Juniors.

Here is Elite Prospects’ take on the highly-touted Finn who has just signed an entry-level deal with the Carolina Hurricanes after playing in Finland this past year:

A super smart two-way player with excellent instincts. Primarily a playmaker, Aho relies on his hockey IQ and has the ability to dictate the pace of the game with the puck. Always calm and in control, Aho is a good skater who positions himself well and has the skill-set to handle all on-ice situations. Aho has experience as both center and winger. (Matias Strozyk, 2016)

Aho had 20 goals and 45 points in 45 games with the Karpat of Liiga this past season. Although Aho is not the type of player Jim Benning likes compared to Matthew Tkachuk, the prospects of landing the 13th-overall pick as well as a name like Aho would certainly be enticing for Benning.

The Bottomline

It is a risky trade for both teams, as each give up pieces they both like. The reward, however, may be too good to pass by. As unlikely as it is, the trade is one that certainly perks my interest.

Next: DRAFT DAY: VAN CALLS COL

VAN CALLS COL: The Tyson Barrie Trade

I will not be long with this proposal, as it has already been hinted at in my 10-thoughts piece on the pros and cons of Tyson Barrie landing with the Vancouver Canucks. I suggested two potential trades in that post, but I deem this the better of the two:

In essence, this trade gives Colorado two pieces that it wants in return for the one piece that Vancouver needs. The Avalanche want a powerful blueliner and a versatile winger with top-six potential. The Canucks need a high-profile puck-moving defenseman.

The fit is already there for the Canucks, as Nikita Tryamkin would be a stud cover for the shifty Tyson Barrie. The net salary involved in this trade should be zero as Hansen and Sbisa add up to $6.1 million dollars next year — a figure close to what Barrie, the Victoria native, is demanding as a restricted free agent.

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The move down to No. 10 wouldn’t be so bad if Vancouver sees that Edmonton has picked Dubois with the fourth-overall pick. On the other hand, the Avalanche could really use a powerful top-line winger, also known as Matthew Tkachuk.

Though gauging Sbisa’s value relative to Barrie’s worth is very difficult at this point in time and the same can be said of the difference between the #10 pick and the #5 pick, this deal has all the right kind of pieces to work, especially if the Avalanche value Tkachuk greatly after Dubois is picked at #4.

Again, the Canucks could target Logan Brown, Mikhail Sergachev, Olli Juolevi, Jacob Chychrun, or Alex Nylander. One of them will be available at No. 10. Clayton Keller could also be an option, as well as Tyson Jost. Benning will like the bigger guys, however, and a defenseman probably is the best option available.

Next: DRAFT DAY: VAN CALLS ARI