The Canuck Way mailbag: Juolevi, Rathbone, playoffs, trading Boeser

More questions and answers…

The Boeser trade rumors were all over the place when Matt Sekeres tweeted out that the Canucks were looking to move the American sniper to either create cap relief or bring in a quality top-four defender, but the Canucks actually have more options than just him.

Other than Boeser, the Canucks have a few different assets that they could package together in a deal for a top-four defender. As much as it pains me to say it, a Virtanen package is the next best option, and I think some people could be surprised at how much value he could land the Canucks in a return.

The soon-to-be 24-year-old has turned the corner of becoming a legitimate top-six player, and although he hasn’t accomplished the feat of a 20-goal season just yet, he sure would have if COVID-19 didn’t get involved this year.

He’s an RFA this offseason and depending on his upcoming playoff performances, he could want more money than the Canucks are willing to fork out. Tack on the fact that Ferland is more or less the same player as Shotgun Jake (when he’s healthy), and suddenly he seems expendable.

He won’t get the Canucks what they want in a trade by himself, but adding a sweetener might just swing a defender in the four, five, six range to Vancouver.

Honestly, I’ve seen very little game tape on Jack Rathbone this year, but from what I’m hearing, he’s become the Canucks’ number one prospect on the blueline. Going the college route has proven to be the right choice for him, and hockey insider Rick Dhaliwal thinks Rathbone could make the team as early as next season.

The scouts are high on this guy for good reason and his statistics show a pretty dominant two-way game playing for Harvard. Right now, he’s a player I can see fighting tooth and nail for a roster spot as a 7th man, but honestly, Rathbone’s numbers show he has the ability to develop into a top-four defenseman in the National Hockey League with quality power play quarterbacking skills.

"“Great pick by the Canucks, great kid who comes from a great family. He is a slick puck-moving defenseman who defends well. Offensively he is really good as well, has a bomb of a shot from the point. He passes like a pro.” – Pro Scout"

Good question. Tough answer. Two things come to mind when I think about Olli Juolevi possibly playing for the Vancouver Canucks next year: Rathbone and what happens in the 2020 offseason.

As a left-shot defender, the Canucks main roster is more or less already spoken for, which makes the NHL jump even more difficult for the 22-year-old Fin. Quinn Hughes will be back for another year of domination, Alex Edler would rather die a Canuck before ever moving on, and Jordie Benn still has a year left on his deal. Add on Rathbone if he elects to go the NHL route, and suddenly Juolevi is facing an uphill battle.

Being a black ace for the Canucks will be good for Juolevi and should serve as a great indication as to where his overall game is at. Regardless, whether he’s ready or not, Juolevi should get some NHL ice time at one point or another next year. He likely won’t be a main roster player to start the 2020-2021 season, but he’ll get his chance to prove himself when a Vancouver Canuck falls to injury.

Without a doubt, I’d love to say the Vancouver Canucks have what it takes to win the Stanley Cup this year, but the chances are slim. I believe they will get past the Wild quite easily, but round two gets a whole lot more complicated against a team like Colorado Avalanche.

What do you think Canucks fans? Can the Vancouver Canucks win the Stanley Cup this year?