Vancouver Canucks mailbag: Sedins, Subban, prospects and more

Our Vancouver Canucks mailbag returned this week. This weeks questions include the Sedins, Jordan Subban, the 2018 NHL Draft and more. You asked, so we answered.

Because the Vancouver Canucks spent a few years raising more questions than answers, fans have been left with many inquiries.

Why did the Canucks fire Alain Vigneault? Why didn’t they keep Cory Schneider and just move out Roberto Luongo? Why haven’t the Sedins been traded yet? Why did it take so long for a rebuild to finally take place?

Indeed, the front office — led by general manager Jim Benning — have caused fans to ask a lot of questions.

Well, we had quite a handful of inquiries from you fans this week. This edition of the mailbag includes an array of topics, ranging from prospects to next year’s draft.

Without further ado, we present you this week’s Vancouver Canucks mailbag:

Always nice to hear from our friends at Flame 4 Thought.

I thought the Flames handled the Sedin twins just fine last year. Daniel was held to one goal and one assist in the five meetings last season, while Henrik was limited to a single assist against Calgary in 2016-17.

Fact is, the Sedins (who turn 37 in September), aren’t the same forces any more. They aren’t even point per game players and figure to play on the second or third line next season. Not sure I can tell them to stop playing well against Calgary, considering the Flames defence has neutralized them well.

Good question, Eknoor.

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I touched base on this subject last week. I firmly believe that the Canucks need to call up Jordan Subban and give him some playing time at some point in 2017-18.

Given the injury history of Alexander Edler, Chris Tanev and Erik Gudbranson, Vancouver will likely have to call up some of their players from Utica throughout 2017-18.

In my opinion, Subban has shown enough to warrant a promotion to the big leagues. I’ll always remember when the Montreal Canadiens recalled his brother P.K. for the 2010 playoffs.

The elder Subban played a huge role in helping the Habs reach the Eastern Conference Final.

Maybe Jordan is ready for the NHL, maybe he isn’t. But he deserves five to 10 games of NHL action next season. May as well see what he has.

There are a handful of players the Canucks should look to trade at the 2018 trade deadline, but I can’t see Benning making any moves in the opening stages of this upcoming season.

For one, I still believe Jake Virtanen needs to show a little more in the AHL before he gets a call up. With Edler, Tanev, Gudbranson, Troy Stecher, Ben Hutton and Michael Del Zotto rounding out the top-six, I don’t see Juolevi making the team.

Related Story: 3 prospects that should play in 2018

But regarding a trade, I do believe the Sedins and Edler will be trade chips at next year’s deadline. Daniel and Henrik may finally agree it’s time to chase a championship before retiring. Edler would bring back some nice pieces during the rebuild. But don’t expect any trades in October, regardless of whether or not Virtanen and/or Juolevi make the team.

Dahlin and Russian winger Andrei Svechnikov are the top prospects for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, at least right now. Svechnikov is a physical, pure goal-scorer. Dahlin is a smooth-skating defenceman that comes with that franchise-changing label.

If the Canucks had the choice, I’d like them to take Dahlin. The idea of him and Juolevi forming the top pairing on Vancouver’s blue line would make 30 other teams cringe. Unlike Juolevi, Dahlin comes with a nice offensive element in his game.

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And hey, if the Canucks are a bottom-three team in the NHL next season, maybe the draft lottery will finally be nice to them. Getting Dahlin would certainly make up for missing out on Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine.