3 Possible trade targets for the Vancouver Canucks at the trade deadline
The 2021 NHL Trade Deadline is around the corner, and no, I am not suggesting the Vancouver Canucks become buyers. However, here are three players that could help them this season and in the future. The Canucks must think long-term when it comes to this years’ deadline, given that the team is currently not a playoff team. With the expansion draft looming, this year’s deadline becomes very important and an opportunity for Jim Benning and co. to shop around the league for potential expansion draft casualties.
Here are three names that are players that their respective teams will be forced to make tough decisions on.
Carolina Hurricanes: Warren Foegele (LW)
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Carolina being a playoff team makes it less likely that they move roster players. But what if they get a chance to upgrade for their playoff run and make their expansion draft decision easier? One player that could do that for Carolina is Tanner Pearson. Pearson is a proven playoff built top-nine forward and fits well with Carolina’s forward group, and gives them more scoring upside than Foegele would this season.
On the flip-side, Warren Foegele is the perfect pick-up for the Canucks bottom six. Similar to the Tyler Motte pick up at the 2018 trade-deadline, Foegele adds an element to the Canucks bottom six that they very much lack: speed and skill.
Foegele being only 24 years old also fits the Canucks timeline much better than an extended Pearson. He drives play at a decent clip and is tenacious on the forecheck; pairing him on a line with Motte would wreak havoc on opposing teams. He has also shown a capability to produce, pitching in 13 goals and 30 points in 68 games last season.
Warren Foegele extends the Carolina lead to 3 with a terrific effort!#LetsGoCanes pic.twitter.com/6czMGtbKpa
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 8, 2021
St. Louis Blues: Oskar Sundqvist (C)
Oskar Sundqvist, who was just announced to be out for the remainder of this season with a torn ACL, is another possible pick-up for the Canucks that would strengthen their bottom six while being a cost-effective pick-up.
Sundqvist is an excellent bottom-six centre that provides solid two-way effectiveness. Sundqvist, who is 26 years old, is signed through 2023 at an affordable 2.75M cap-hit. He has shown the ability to provide excellent two-way play-driving results while having solid defensive numbers, including a shots for percentage of 52.3%, according to Natural Stat Trick.
He is also no slouch offensively; through the 2019 and 2020 seasons, he put up 26 goals and 54 points in 131 games, producing at a 16 goal and 34 points per 82 game pace. Sundqvist provides versatility in playing all three forward positions while being at his best at centre. He’s shown to be an effective penalty killer and provides an element of physical play that the Canucks could use in their bottom six.
This pick-up would strictly be one with a vision for next season and beyond, as Sundqvist has already been ruled out for the remainder of the year.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Travis Dermott (D)
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be active at the trade deadline, and a possible upgrade to their blue-line could mean that Dermott is the odd man out. The 24-year-old blue-liner has had a tough time cementing himself as a regular contributor through the early part of his career. He has been the unfortunate member of a numbers game in Toronto, which puts his future with the organization in doubt.
The Leafs have to consider the fact that they have Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren on the outside looking in, chomping at the bit to suit up in the NHL. They also have an expansion draft decision to make. They more than likely will be protecting Morgan Reilly, TJ Brodie, Jake Muzzin, and Justin Holl, which leaves Dermott as the odd man out. Dermott will have no problem cracking the Canucks lineup as their bottom pairing has been a revolving door this season, featuring players like Olli Juolevi, Jalen Chatfield, and Travis Hamonic, neither of whom have provided play that warrants a regular spot in the lineup.
Dermott’s playing style, which exhibits high-end skating and jumping into the rush, fits the Canucks system quite well. Being 24 years old is attractive to the Vancouver Canucks as he fits the age group of players that coincide with the organization’s timeline.
Next. The Canucks claimed forward Travis Boyd off of waivers today. dark
What do you think, Canucks fans? Should the team pursue any of these players at the trade deadline? Let us know in the comments below!