Vancouver Canucks may be interested in C Ryan Spooner

The Bruins are looking to trade pending free agent Ryan Spooner, and it looks like the Vancouver Canucks may be interested.

If the Vancouver Canucks want to improve on their 29th-place finish this past season, they will need more offense.

It appears that general manager Jim Benning may be looking at trade options to improve their scoring depth. One of those options is Boston Bruins center Ryan Spooner:

The 25-year-old is coming off a two-year deal with a cap hit of $950,000 per year. He becomes a restricted free agent on July 1. In the last two seasons with Boston, Spooner has scored 24 goals, 64 points in 158 games.

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However, he fell out of favor with Bruins coach Jack Cassidy, and was a healthy scratch the final two games of their first-round series against the Ottawa Senators. Spooner managed just two assists in four playoff games, and saw his ice time decline from 16:43 in Game 1 to just 9:34 in Game 4 before he was sent to the press box for Game 5.

So, it looks as if his career in Boston may have come to an end.

But, despite struggling with the Bruins, Spooner could still prove a valuable addition to the Canucks. The 38 points he scored this past season in Boston would have put him fourth on Vancouver’s leaderboard. Spooner played mostly on the third line, plus on the power play. And the Canucks desperately need scoring help in both of those areas.

If Benning were to acquire Spooner’s rights from the Bruins, he could be qualified for just $1.1 Million per year. The move would fill a need, and at a low cost. Additionally, if Vancouver is out of playoff contention he could be moved at next year’s trade deadline, bringing in extra assets.

But what assets would it cost Vancouver to trade for him now?

The asking price should be fairly low, perhaps simply a third- or fourth-round draft pick. While the  rebuilding Canucks should be reluctant to give up any draft picks, they could recoup the pick if they flip Spooner at the deadline.

On the other hand, the Bruins’ greatest needs are for a left-shot defenseman or a scoring winger. Vancouver does not have a surplus of wingers, but they do have left-handed defensemen. Perhaps Spooner could be part of a deal for Ben Hutton, who played his college hockey in nearby Maine.

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Since the Vancouver Canucks are trying to rebuild in earnest, it is not easy to see them parting easily with a draft pick or a young defenseman.

However, if they do make any trades, Spooner is the sort of player they should look for. He is young and inexpensive, and he fills a team need. Best of all, he could be used as a deadline rental to bring in more assets.