According to reports, the Tampa Bay Lightning were inquiring on Alexander Edler, but the 31-year-old defenceman wants to stay with the Vancouver Canucks for the long run.
The Vancouver Canucks were supposed to be sellers at the trade deadline, but things may change with Erik Gudbranson receiving a three-year contract extension. Outside of Thomas Vanek and Alexander Edler, there aren’t any somewhat realistic trade candidates on this team.
Vanek has never fetched a major return at the trade deadline, so the Canucks could easily opt to just keep him for the reason and/or look at an extension. That could possibly make Edler a prime trade option for general manager Jim Benning.
In his latest 31 Thoughts column, Elliotte Friedman wrote that he sees the Tampa Bay Lightning as “an under-the-radar possibility,” for Edler. But as Friedman noted, he does have a no-trade clause. Edler has full say in a possible trade.
Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 then offered this intriguing tidbit:
Edler's agent refuses to answer calls, texts or e-mails, maybe there is something to the Tampa Bay rumour. #Canucks
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) February 21, 2018
But don’t get your hopes up too high. Jason Brough of The Athletic also tweeted these quotes from Edler:
Here was Edler's answer when I asked if he wanted to spend the rest of his career in Vancouver. https://t.co/f0cIvEn1nY pic.twitter.com/7NMK1rqCXY
— Jason Brough 🙁 (@SadClubCommish) February 22, 2018
Many though the Canucks would trade Edler after a dismal 2013-14 season with the Vancouver Canucks, but that never transpired.
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He’s signed through the 2018-19 season, so do you really see Edler changing his mind?
Keep in mind that Benning said last year that he has no intentions of trading Edler, who’s value is only decreasing as he gets older and more prone to injury.
The Canucks probably could have tried to force Edler into accepting a trade some years ago, but the stubborn decision to “rebuild on the fly” by management means the ship has probably sailed on that.
They don’t want to trade Edler (even though most rebuilding teams probably would trade a player of his caliber), and he doesn’t want to move.
Remember, this is a team that couldn’t work out trades for ageing but valuable assets in Dan Hamhuis and Radim Vrbata two years ago. Even though trading Edler makes plenty of sense, they simply won’t do it.
I know many Canucks fans think the idea of trading Edler is crazy. I understand he’s a very lovable player in this city, and he’s still a decent top-four blueliner. But by the time this team contends again, Edler will be well past his playing prime – if he’s even on the Canucks after next year.
Next: Canucks: The defence trade deadline situation
For the Canucks, an ideael scenario would see them finding a way to trade Alexander Edler. But neither party is interested in doing so, and they missed their prime opportunity to do so. We’ll see if the team’s decision in holding onto another ageing veteran brings rewards for once.