Vancouver Canucks: The defence trade deadline situation

The trade deadline is approaching quickly and the Vancouver Canucks have multiple decisions to make about which defencemen they want to move forward with. There are three names that immediately stick out for trade options.

The NHL trade deadline is Feb. 26, it seemed so far away for a while now and that could be because Vancouver Canucks fans have been expecting some sort of movement to have already happened.

There are decisions to be made by the recently re-signed general manager Jim Benning. It’s a big trade deadline, as it could be one that finally shows Canucks fans where this team is headed. Benning has his contract and can now fully execute his plan to build the team through the draft and that includes trading off some pieces for picks.

The Canucks have too many defencemen on their current roster moving forward and with the possible additions next season of Olli Juolevi and Guillaume Brisebois, some warm bodies need to be shipped off for some draft picks and prospects. It’s not quite “The Five D’s of Dodgeball” but here are three “D-Men” that Jim Benning has to explore moving at this upcoming trade deadline

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Chris Tanev

The big fish in a small pond. Chris Tanev is clearly the Canucks biggest trade asset, with one year after this season at 4.45 million dollars a year he bring value not only as a rental but brings value next season as well.

Elliotte Friedman talked about the possibility of a trade for Chris Tanev this past Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada saying “The Canucks have told Toronto it’s going to take a special offer”.

It is going to take a special offer from any team. Whether that be Toronto, who has been rumoured with Tanev since this past NHL entry draft, or another top NHL team looking to add a top four right-handed shot defenceman such as the Tampa Bay Lightning.

But what is this “Special Offer”

It looks to be a first round pick plus a prospect. Which sounds like a lot, but is Tanev worth more as a Vancouver Canuck? Maybe.

The situation gets complicated as Tanev’s injury is worse thank originally thought and could miss up to another month due to a hairline break in his foot.

Tanev makes every defencemen better when they partner up with him. If he can do it to Alexander Edler, he can do it to anyone. It comes down to what is the special offer coming back to the Canucks and will that fit into Jim Benning’s plan better than keeping Tanev as a building block to help a young upcoming defenceman like Olli Juolevi or maybe we can dream a little and even say Rasmus Dahlin.

Come on, a guy can dream.

Ben Hutton or Michael Del Zotto

Both of these guys are wildcards to me, Ben Hutton looks to not be in head coach Travis Green’s good books. Hutton has sat out multiple times this year. It comes after he showed so much offensive potential in his rookie season, with some more great flashes in year two.

Hutton has seen his ice-time drop more than a minute and half from last season and seems to be nothing more than a bottom pairing defenceman to Green. Hutton had 58% of his points last season on the power play but this year has struggled to make it on the man advantage.

It’s been a rough season for Hutton with no goals and only six assists in 51 games. A move could be good for the 24-year-old, who could be a bottom pairing defenceman on a playoff team and maybe add some depth on a second power play unit.

The question is what does he generate as a return.

It’s very up in the air, at only 24 he has probably not shown his best hockey yet and another team could value him as high as a third round pick in return.

Would you take a third round pick for Ben Hutton? Let me know in the comments.

Then there’s Michael Del Zotto, the Canucks locker room DJ who is in a very different boat compared to the smiling kid Hutton. Coach Travis Green has praised Del Zotto all season, he has probably said “I liked his game” at least 15 times in post game interviews.

Del Zotto has had a pretty decent season, I have likes his offensive game a lot this season. He currently has five goals and 18 points in 59 games. DJ Del Zotto was leaned on heavily at the start of the season for minutes, there was a run of 13 games where he played over 23 minutes in every game.

He has definitely shown some defensive deficiencies but has overall been there for the Canucks as a top four defenceman.

What could DJ MDZ be worth?

Who knows, maybe he fetches a third or fourth round pick. MDZ could stay with the team, I haven’t hated his game too much this year and so far he is the only defenceman who has added any signs of offense, but maybe Gudbranson is going to change now that he has signed that three year deal and will start unleashing his 103 MPH slap shot he has been hiding all along.

Its time to shine for Benning

Jim Benning has a lot of decisions ahead of him and with the new contract he should try and be confident at the deadline, make a splash. If the right deal is there for Tanev, take it. Make a deal if any kind of decent offer is made on Vanek or swap one of my wildcards for a later round draft pick because one thing we know for sure is GMJB loves his picks and so far those picks have looked like future NHL players and maybe even stars.

Next: Canucks top prospects of week 18: Gaudette, Palmu, Demko

So shoot for the stars Jim, play to your strengths. Get as many draft picks as you can for Thomas Vanek and these blueliners, if the deal makes sense moving forward. Show Canucks fans a plan for greatness, because after a three-year extension that is what we should expect.