The Canuck Way
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Canucks: Potential trades that could improve the defence

By Bill Huan

VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 28: Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning speaks to the media after a game between against the Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings. Benning was discussing the recent trades of Vancouver Canucks Left Wing Alexandre Burrows (14) and Vancouver Canucks Right Wing Jannik Hansen (36). February 28, 2017, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC. (Photo by Bob Frid/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 28: Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning speaks to the media after a game between against the Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings. Benning was discussing the recent trades of Vancouver Canucks Left Wing Alexandre Burrows (14) and Vancouver Canucks Right Wing Jannik Hansen (36). February 28, 2017, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC. (Photo by Bob Frid/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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With defence being the weak link of the team, what trades could the Vancouver Canucks consider to improve their blueline?
With defence being the weak link of the team, what trades could the Vancouver Canucks consider to improve their blueline? /

With the season currently in limbo, no one knows if the Stanley Cup will be awarded this year, and how the salary cap might be affected going forward. However, this uncertainty won’t stop the Vancouver Canucks from thinking of ways to improve the team for the future.

J.T. Miller’s breakout season and the continued improvements from the young forward group helped Vancouver develop into a strong offensive squad, as the team ranked eighth in goals per game when the NHL officially hit pause on the 2019-2020 campaign. Jacob Markstrom‘s emergence into a star goaltender and Thatcher Demko’s development into a stellar backup also provided much-needed stability in net.

With that being said, the Canucks’ obvious flaw lies on the blueline. Even with Quinn Hughes having a historical rookie season, the team in a tie for 21st in the league in goals against per game.

Unfortunately, Vancouver doesn’t have any blue-chip defensive prospects who could replace ageing blueliners such as Alex Edler. Moreover, the impending free agency of both Chris Tanev (a pending UFA) and Troy Stecher (a pending RFA) coupled with Vancouver’s difficult salary cap situation might force the team to explore a different method of improving their back-end: through trade.

Here is a look at three trade ideas to fix the blue line.

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