Vancouver Canucks should trade Chris Tanev To Oilers

Chris Tanev is the Vancouver Canucks best trade chip, and he’d be a perfect fit for the Edmonton Oilers. The Canucks could get a lot for Tanev, and they should see if the Oilers would give up their 10th pick, and maybe more.

The Vancouver Canucks can’t go wrong with defenceman Chris Tanev, whether they opt to keep their most reliable blueliner or decide to trade him for young assets.

But considering his injury history and the fact Tanev is only under contract for two more years, this offseason may be the best time for general manager Jim Benning to trade away his best defenceman. And the Edmonton Oilers are the perfect fit.

After falling one game short of reaching the Western Conference Final a year ago, Edmonton unraveled in every aspect and failed to make the playoffs. General manager Peter Chiarelli owns the 10th pick, but it’s not crazy to think he’ll package it for an impact blueliner.

Last month, Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Sun suggested that there’s a high chance Edmonton trades the pick. He points out that the Oilers need to get help for Connor McDavid right away, and using the selection on a defenceman who’s “two to three years away,” from the pros doesn’t do that.

Tanev is one of the game’s elite shutdown blueliners, and he could be the final piece needed that takes Edmonton back to championship contention next year.

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And if Chiarelli was willing to deal a proven sniper in Taylor Hall for a second-pairing blueliner in Adam Larsson, who’s to say he wouldn’t give up the 10th pick for Tanev?

Other pieces could be involved, of course. Maybe Benning has to attach his second or third-rounder. Maybe the Canucks are asked to take back another defenceman (Kris Russell, perhaps), in return.

Canucks fans won’t like this idea in trading Tanev to a division rival.

But if it means obtaining the 10th overall pick (and perhaps more), then it’s worth it. Imagine if they manage to land two of: Noah Dobson, Evan Bouchard, Adam Boqvist and Quinton Hughes, or maybe one of those players plus Oliver Wahlstrom.

This is merely speculation on my end, of course. When I see an Oilers team led by McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, I see a team that can compete for many Cups. However, a top-pairing blueliner is needed in Oil Country, and Tanev is that guy.

For the Canucks, trading Tanev would make a mediocre blue line even worse, but these are the sacrifices you make during a rebuild. If trading an injury-prone, 28-year-old blueliner who’s two years away from free agency for the 10th pick is an option, then they have to do it.

Again, other pieces would probably have to be included. It’s hard to envision the Oilers doing a one-for-one swap, but Benning’s priority has to be that 10th pick. He wasn’t able to land an extra first in the 2016 or ’17 drafts, but there’s a prime opportunity right here.

Making a trade with a divisional foe is risky, but this is a man who traded Ryan Kesler to the Anaheim Ducks and Jannik Hansen to the San Jose Sharks. Trading Tanev would only make Edmonton that much better, but the Canucks are far away from catching up to them.

Next: Vancouver Canucks: Using the Blackhawks to help rebuild

The Canucks need to land another first-rounder in this year’s draft. Trading Tanev to Edmonton could mean owning two of the top-10 selections. If Chiarelli is willing to do business, then this is where Benning has to finally make the bold decision and trade away his top blueliner in Tanev.

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