Vancouver Canucks rumours: Sedins could affect trade deadline plans

The Vancouver Canucks are expected to be sellers at the trade deadline, but the latest reports suggest their plans will be affected by the futures of Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

This season has been dismal for the Vancouver Canucks, who had a promising start through November before the injuries piled up. Entering play on Tuesday, they sit 28th-overall in the NHL standings, and are going to miss the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

The bright side is that the Canucks have plenty of quality trade chips at the deadline that could haul in a decent return of prospects and/or draft picks. Among them are 6-foot-5 defenceman Erik Gudbranson and veteran sniper Thomas Vanek.

The former is surely on his way out, as Gudbranson has struggled in Vancouver and is a pending unrestricted free agent. But Vanek’s case is a little more interesting, as the 33-year-old is on pace for 23 goals and 56 points this season.

However, the Canucks are not a guarantee to sell at the deadline. According to Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre and Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Sun, the futures of Daniel and Henrik Sedin could affect general manager Jim Benning’s decisions.

Here’s what MacIntyre had to say:

If Henrik and Daniel, tied for second and fourth in Canucks scoring with 32 and 30 points respectively, are leaning towards retirement, Benning should have more interest in re-signing 33-year-old winger Thomas Vanek instead of trading him.And if the Canucks trade their most valuable expendable asset, defenceman Erik Gudbranson, who like Vanek and the Sedins is eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1, what they seek in return could be affected by having big holes at forward near the top of the roster.

According to Kuzma, Benning said  that the Sedins will affect the team’s “thinking to a certain point at the deadline and for the summer.”

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Right now, it’s tough to envision the Sedins hanging up the skates after this season. Both of them are going to get close to the 50-point mark, and they’re still the best leaders this team has. And it’s not even close.

The twins haven’t indicated any plans to retire in the nearby future. They want to remain in Vancouver, and the Canucks will keep them here until they’re ready to move on.

But if the Sedins shock the world and announce their plans to leave after the season, then the Canucks will have to think twice about trading Vanek — and Gudbranson — at the deadline.

The Canucks lack secondary scoring outside of the Sedin twins. If they opt to retire, the Canucks will likely feel inclined to extend Vanek. He’s still producing like a reliable top-six forward, and has been a great mentor to younger players like Brock Boeser.

In an ideal world, the Sedins make up their minds fairly soon and tell Benning what they want to do. They’re still healthy and producing as top-six forwards. As long as they’re not asking for ridiculous term and money on their next contracts (they most definitely won’t), then getting an extension done shouldn’t be so difficult.

The trade deadline is on Feb. 26, so Benning and the twins only have a month to sit down and figure out what the plans are.

If the Sedins haven’t made up their minds yet, then the Canucks may just have to sell any way. Benning cannot afford another 2016 trade deadline disaster, especially in a contract year. Moves have to be made.

Next: Vancouver Canucks: No excuses for lack of scoring

We’ll find out soon enough what the future holds for the twins, and what moves the Canucks will or won’t pull off at the trade deadline next month.