Vancouver Canucks roundtable: Scoring leaders, playoff chances, more
By Alex Hoegler
2. Which Canuck do you think is the most likely to get traded?
Scott Rosenhek
As he is in the final year of his contract, I think the Canucks will try to find a trade partner for Michael Del Zotto. Somehow, Jim Benning just learned last season that defencemen are valuable at the trade deadline.
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He has to clear up space on that left side for Quinn Hughes/Olli Juolevi and the team’s DJ may bring back a mid round pick. His contract is easy to take on at the end of the season and has no trade protection.
Alex Hoegler
Have to go with Alexander Edler here, and it’s not much of a question. The Canucks can’t extend a player that turns 33 next year, especially considering his inability to stay healthy.
Michael Del Zotto won’t give the Canucks much of a return in a trade. Edler would, given his power play history and ability to play in any team’s top-four.
Thankfully, Benning has learned the importance of trading a veteran UFA at the deadline, rather than lose him for nothing. I’m expecting Edler to be gone, even though he’s yet to show a willingness of waiving his no-movement clause. It’ll happen when a handful of contenders make serious offers for him, and Edler will realize the desire to chase a Stanley Cup.
Andrew Nazareth
Michael Del Zotto. Regardless of what the analytics paint him to be, he is still regarded as a serviceable defenceman around the league. Since he is on a expiring contract, look for the Canucks to trade him for a mid round pick or a c-level prospect in the Tyler Motte mold.
Chris Faber
I do not believe the Canucks have plenty of trade options. They may be able to flip Del Zotto or Ben Hutton for a late pick, when there are some injuries to other teams closer to playoff time.
There is a possibility that Alexander Edler could waive his no trade and be moved down to the Tampa Bay Lightning or one of the California teams. I’m sure he’d fit in just fine with those San Jose Sharks, but who wouldn’t at this point?
If a team wants to take Edler, it would be to shore up a top-four spot. Th return could potentially be a second round pick. I would like to believe that the most relevant likely to be trade piece would be Edler.
Tyler Shipley
It has to be Chris Tanev. He’s the most marketable veteran the Canucks have and I would have been glad to see him traded last year when teams were paying top price for d. I would be pushing hard on any team with injuries.
The Leafs have a lot of question marks on the back end and need one or two veteran pieces back there to replace/upgrade on Roman Polak and Ron Hainsey. Tanev fits, and should generate a good return. I love the Tan Man but this is the right move. Obviously, Sutter should be traded, but it’s less likely that Jimbo realizes that.