Canucks roundtable: The trade for top-6 forward Tyler Toffoli
The Canuck Way writers weigh in with their thoughts on the Vancouver Canucks landing Tyler Toffoli, the price of the trade, and what Toffoli brings to the team.
The Vancouver Canucks made a statement trade when they acquired Tyler Toffoli from the LA Kings. The 27-year-old is a proven NHL veteran with playoff experience and a Stanley Cup ring. The Canucks organization is in a tough spot fighting for a 2020 playoff birth, adding Toffoli was a big move for Vancouver and there is a lot of buzz around the city because of it.
The soon to be UFA will play at least twenty games in a Canucks uniform. The goal is to make the playoffs, and of course, Benning will likely want to extend the winger if he performs well in the postseason. For now, the staff at The Canuck Way got together to discuss this Canucks deal that has everybody talking.
Brayden Ursel
A lot of people, fans of the Canucks figured they might be better off to stand pat and see what this team is made of. With key injuries piling up at the wrong time, Benning did what was necessary, he acquired the perfect top-six forward for Bo Horvat. With the absence of Brock Boeser extended to three weeks, and Micheal Ferland cut for the year, this addition to the second line is a no brainer.
Toffoli is a proven 20-goal scorer, he can play great on both sides of the puck, he has tons of playoff experience including great playing chemistry with former linemate Tanner Pearson and a Stanley Cup ring. Great player coming back for Vancouver, a little disappointing if he slips through the cracks of the open market. For now, he can be a driving force towards the playoffs and when the roster is healthy, the Canucks can deploy a very dangerous top-nine.
Giving up Tyler Madden might sting a bit down the road and leave the team with no center depth in terms of prospects, but this is a win-win trade for the Canucks. In a wide-open Pacific Division, you really can’t blame Benning for making this deal. Now is as perfect of a time as any to be swinging for the fences. The only way this deal looks bad is if Toffoli doesn’t re-up in Van-City. Win a playoff series or two, partner him up with his old pal, Pearson and the Canucks might have just landed the deal of the deadline. This could have a huge impact on Vancouver.
Jacob Calvert
Jim Benning succeeded in making the Canucks better with the acquisition of Toffoli. While the price was steep, the market had been set by the recent trades of Blake Coleman and Jason Zucker. The second-round pick that the Canucks traded can hopefully be recovered before the NHL draft next summer.
Madden is a very promising prospect, but it would take many years to overcome Adam Gaudette on the depth chart, if ever. Tim Schaller is a benchwarmer who had performed well in the early season, but with Loui Eriksson being moved off the second line, he was no longer needed on the fourth line. The biggest issue I have is that the Canucks don’t have a first or second-round pick in this year’s draft provided they make the playoffs.
With Boeser out for at least three weeks, and with Ferland shut down, this allowed the Canucks to make the trade. They need to continue to win games and with two players who are supposed to fit into your top six out for significant time. Vancouver can’t have Eriksson become a staple on the second line. Overall, I really like this trade and think that if the Canucks can re-sign Toffoli, they are a much better team for the next couple of years.