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.
Maxim Fossey
What are my thoughts on the Toffoli trade? At first, I thought the return from Vancouver was a bit steep. Seeing Madden tearing it up in college at the moment kind of stings to lose him for sure, but it’s not like they traded away prospects like Nils Hoglander for example. But let’s think about the present instead of the future. Toffoli has had great chemistry with Pearson back when they were playing with the Los Angeles Kings on ‘That 70s Line’. And with Pearson having a great year so far, bringing a teammate that brings more offensive upside to the team shouldn’t hurt the locker room.
Toffoli recently just scored a hat-trick against the Colorado Avalanche at the Stadium Series game on Feb. 15. Likewise, this season, his Corsi For percent is at 57.6 compared to his 18-19 season total of 52.7. Toffoli is currently on pace for a 25-goal, 48-point season. The Canucks have had offensive consistency issues this season, such as a struggling power play at times. This is a “win now” kind of trade, as the Canucks look on to clinch this much important playoff spot this season. I can see Toffoli sliding in a line nicely alongside Pearson and Horvat.
Thomas Anderson
Toffoli has had three 20-plus goal years,, and looks to be on route for a fourth this year. While scoring hasn’t been the Canucks’ biggest problem, the injuries to Boeser, Josh Leivo and Ferland have left the top six lacking the same scoring threat that was there for the beginning of the year.
While adding Toffoli now will give some balance back to that top-six, in the long run, it gives the Canucks a real top-nine when they start to get bodies back. Toffoli also adds something the Canucks need to do more of, which is shooting the puck, he is averaging just under three (2.84) a game so far this season.
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He also can replace Brandon Sutter on the first power play unit while Boeser is out, and he currently has just four power play goals this year. He is reliable enough defensively to be part of the Horvat line, and he already has good chemistry with Pearson. When Pearson and Toffoli were on the ice together in L.A., they always had the puck more often than not.
The Canucks did have to give up a great prospect, Madden, who was having another great year in the NCAA and looked to finish top three in the Hobey Baker Award before being injured recently. They also had to give up a second-round pick in the 2020 draft, but also managed to get rid of Schaller who was looking like the odd man out for most of the season.
There is a conditional fourth-round pick for 2022 if Toffoli re-signs but it’s a small price to pay if he does re-sign. That to me is the make or break for this trade if Toffoli does re-sign to a reasonable term and price I think was the right call for the Canucks to add another veteran player who has playoff experience and has won a Stanley Cup.
Jarred Chan
Toffoli adds a lot to the team, having been tied for third in scoring on a weak Los Angeles Kings team. Being close friends with teammate Pearson, Canucks fans have a lot to be excited about the 27-year-old who has totaled 18 goals and 34 points in 58 games with the Kings this season.
A key addition to the Canucks who for one will be missing Boeser for a minimum three weeks from today, but more importantly add a much needed top-six right-winger. In the event Toffoli re-signs with the Canucks, this is a solid trade.
It is sad to see a second-round pick and Madden leave, however, with our prospect pool still consisting of forwards such as Vasili Podkolzin, Hoglander, Kole Lind, there is plenty of players to look forward to in the future.
With Benning and the Canucks making moves that potentially have them not selecting a player until the third round of the 2020 NHL draft, it is certain that the Canucks believe they are moving towards Stanley Cup contention.
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Final thoughts
The Vancouver Canucks made a reasonable trade at a very reasonable price. A playoff birth gives this trade the thumbs up. A deep run into the Western Final or further deserves two thumbs up, and if the Canucks manage to extend Toffoli, it instantly becomes a home run trade for Benning.