Vancouver Canucks Draft: 4 Proposals to Trade Down

Calgary Flames — 6th Overall

The Calgary Flames currently own the sixth-overall pick — the one right after Vancouver’s. There are two scenarios where Calgary would be interested in a trade up:

1. They view Dubois and Tkachuk as one tier higher than the remaining forwards and want to secure one of them over the likes of Nylander, Brown and Keller.
2. They want the top defenseman, Juolevi, and are scared Vancouver could pick him up at No. 5.

When a team can get a top prospect like the mentioned Nylander, Brown or Keller, or Jakob Chychrun or Mikhail Sergachev if they want a defenseman, selling a pick to move up one slot may seem like a waste. However, Calgary currently owns 10 picks, including three in the second round, so they definitely have a couple to spare.

If one of the scenarios above turns out to be true, and the Flames want to make sure they get the player they want, they could send one of their late second-round picks to Vancouver to move up to five. The trade could then look like this:

With the sixth pick, the Canucks could still get one of Dubois, Tkachuk, Juolevi, Nylander and Brown. It is hard to predict who will be available at 54, but there will be several interesting options. In my final 2016 Mock Draft, I have the Flames selecting Swedish defenseman Jacob Moverare at 54, which is also a pick the Canucks could make in that position.

Next: Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes — 7th Overall

Next up are the Arizona Coyotes. Sitting at seventh overall, they are also likely to get a solid prospect. But, given their current ownership situation and relocation rumors, they might want to land a really big fish. Arizona native Auston Matthews is probably too unrealistic, although the Coyotes have reportedly made an offer for him, so they might have to erase the ‘s’ in Matthews and settle for Matthew Tkachuk.

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Back in 1997, when Matthew was born, his father Keith was the Coyotes’ captain — the first of the franchise after relocation from Winnipeg. Hence, Matthew was born in Coyotes Nation, and would be a great face for the franchise. Perhaps saving them from another relocation.

If Pierre-Luc Dubois is the fourth-overall selection, Arizona could make a push for fifth to secure Tkachuk. The Coyotes currently own eight picks, including four in the first two rounds, so they should have a pick or two to spare as well. However, moving up from seventh to fifth should cost more than just the 53rd pick. Arizona’s third-round selection, 63rd-overall, is too valuable to add, though.

Because of that, the Canucks might be looking to add a prospect from Arizona instead. A trade could then look like the following:

Christian Fischer was the Coyotes’ 32nd-overall selection in 2015 and looks like a really solid prospect. The Coyotes know that, so they probably wouldn’t mind keeping him. The Canucks would have to add at least the 64th-overall pick this year to make it work.

Even then, Arizona could reject the offer, because Fischer might be too valuable to them. But, Vancouver wouldn’t mind keeping the fifth pick either, so they should try to get as much as they can.

Next: Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo Sabres — 8th Overall

After drafting a franchise center second overall in 2015, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Sabres shift their focus to defense. In my mock draft, I have them picking Jakob Chychrun at No. 8. But since scouts seem to question his hockey sense and offensive upside, the Sabres could also target Olli Juolevi. The problem with Juolevi: he will likely be gone by the time Buffalo is on the board.

With 11 picks in the draft, Buffalo has more than enough to trade up and still get a large 2016 draft class. With the draft being held in Buffalo, the Sabres might want to look for a big splash and get their fans a high-end prospect to cheer for. Juolevi could be that guy, and a trade up might be the only way to get him.

This trade could be fairly easy again:

With the eighth and 38th picks, the Canucks could get two talented future NHL players. With pick No. 8, they could get one of Nylander, Brown, Keller, Chychrun, Sergachev, Michael McLeod, Tyson Jost or Jake Bean — you see, there are many options.

At 38, I have the Sabres picking goaltender Carter Hart, who won’t be an option for Vancouver, as they have Thatcher Demko in the system. However, they could go for an offensive prospect like Janne Kuokkanen, Will Bitten or Tyler Benson, or a defenseman like Lukas Johansen, Logan Stanley, Dennis Cholowski.

Alternatively, the Canucks could try to flip the 38th and 64th picks for a late first or early second-round pick. Then again, the Canucks could stick with the extra pick as they have a desperate need to stock up their prospect pool.

Next: Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens — 9th Overall

The Montreal Canadiens have been desperate for a No. 1 center for about as long as the rival Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto will get a player that can be their No. 1 for the next 15 years, but Montreal is still too good for a pick that high. At No. 9, 6-foot-6 center Logan Brown looks like the perfect fit, but they might prefer Pierre-Luc Dubois.

While most NHL scouts see Dubois as a winger in the NHL, the potential to play center is certainly there. Plus, Dubois is a Quebec native and would be the perfect face of the franchise for many years to come. Of course, Dubois is only an option if the Canadiens can move up to No. 4 or 5, depending on what trade they can get done and, if they can’t acquire fourth, if Dubois is still available.

The following trade might be what it takes for Montreal to move up:

With a trade like this, Vancouver could draft a potential No. 1 center in one of Brown, Keller and Jost. Or, they could go for a promising defenseman in Chychrun, Sergachev or Bean. With the 39th pick, targets include the same players I listed for pick 38. At 70, they would have several options as well, including many talented players from Europe.

If Montreal does not want to part ways with that many picks, they could send a prospect to Vancouver instead. Noah Juulsen, Michael McCarron and Jacob de la Rose are all worth trading for.

Next: Outlook

Outlook

Since the Colorado Avalanche are in a similar position as the Vancouver Canucks, they are not a likely trade partner. At No. 10, they will get a talented forward like Brown, Keller or Jost, or a defenseman in Sergachev, Chychrun or Bean. They need their picks and prospects as much as Vancouver wants them, so the Canucks should focus on the top nine.

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There, we have several possible trades. The Canucks want to stay competitive next year, but their fifth pick is not a part of that plan. By trading down, the team would not get worse, it would just have more potential for the future. Whether the Canucks get picks or prospects in the deal, they will be happy to stock up their prospect pool or get AHL/NHL-ready players.

Jim Benning has no pressure to make a trade happen, so he can be aggressive in negotiations. There is nothing wrong with asking for teams’ top prospects because they are the ones who want the more valuable draft pick. That may lead to hours on the phone with no result, but Benning would be just fine with that.

Unfortunately, the remaining top-nine clubs have no pressing need to move up either. Alex Nylander and Clayton Keller are said to have the highest offensive potential outside the top three, and at least one of them will likely still be available at No. 10. Likewise, Jakob Chychrun, Mikhail Sergachev and Jake Bean are incredibly talented and will be great picks in the 10 area.

Next: 3 Draft Day Player Trade Proposals

The only scenario in which a trade like those outlined above happens, is if one of the teams behind the Canucks likes a player enough to sacrifice pieces to get him. Will it happen? We will find out on Friday.