Which Canucks are likely to be moved at the trade deadline?

Believe it or not, we are less than a week until the March 21 trade deadline. For the Vancouver Canucks, it looks to be another interesting deadline day for them.

What makes things even more interesting is that ideally the Canucks would be sellers so they can focus on the future but they find themselves in the midst of a playoff race and at the time of this writing just sit only one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the final wild-card spot. The Canucks are also 7-2-1 in their last ten games and since Bruce Boudreau took over as the head coach on December 5, the Canucks have gone 22-9-5 and are eighth in the entire NHL since then.

What kind of deadline should we expect from the deadline? With the Canucks fighting for a playoff spot, there could be a few moves, a quiet deadline or maybe, just maybe, a trade that shocks Vancouver so much that people start falling off their chairs and dropping their phones simultaneously.

Over the past couple of months, plenty of trade rumours coming from various hockey insiders has been brought up. The trade rumours at times were like hearing an Ed Sheeran song. You like it first but everywhere you go, you just can’t escape him and hear him multiple times a day.

Various players have been mentioned in these rumours, so with the deadline in just a few days, let’s go over which of the Canucks brought up in rumours are likely to be traded. Patrik Allvin has got some decisions to make.

Disclaimer: This is just pure speculation from my own mind and I cannot predict the future like some mythical oracle. Knowing hockey, you will never know what could happen.

J.T. Miller: Unlikely to be traded

Let’s start with the big names.

J.T. Miller has been on the trade rumour department for what feels like forever but it looks like the Canucks won’t be shopping him at the deadline. He has been on an absolute tear with 27 points in 13 games. At an 82-game pace, the 29-year-old is projected to have 101 points. Miller has also proven to be a leader on the ice and off the ice.

Miller has been linked to numerous teams including the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs. With Miller being the Canucks best forward and the fact that the playoffs are a possibility, all signs point to them keeping Miller.

However, do not rule out the possibility of a Miller trade in the offseason.

Brock Boeser: Possible that he could get traded

The second of the big names, Brock Boeser’s name has been swirling in trade rumour land. The 25-year-old needs a new contract this season and knowing the Canucks cap situation and the fact that Boeser has a qualifying offer of 7.5 million dollars, giving him his next contract is going to be easier said than done.

Boeser has enjoyed Boudreau’s arrival. Since Boudreau arrived, he has scored 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points in 33 games. Boeser had four goals and six assists for 10 points in 22 games under Travis Green.

However, the Canucks may want to trade Boeser because they may not be able to afford his next contract and his qualifying offer. Vancouver also needs defencemen, particularly right-handed defencemen.

Allvin could look to his old buddies in Pittsburgh for a right-handed defenceman. One name that has been thrown out there is John Marino of the Pittsburgh Penguins since he was mentioned as a target by the Canucks by Sportsnet Insider Elliotte Friedman during last Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast.

Marino could possibly be a long-term partner for Quinn Hughes and Boeser would be an ideal target for the Penguins, who want to go on another Stanley Cup run.

I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Boeser getting traded by Monday but there is a chance that the Canucks may want to keep Boeser around and sign him too. If someone like John Marino could come back the other way, it would be tempting to trade Boeser

Tyler Myers: A small chance he gets traded

Believe it or not, there is interest in Tyler Myers. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports that at this point there is nothing serious due to Myers having a full NTC which becomes a 10-team no-trade list starting July.

Myers signed a five-year contract worth six million dollars per season in the summer of 2019 and it was a divisive move among Canucks fans. This season, he has done well for the most part, particularly since Boudreau arrived.

Moving Myers would be a big step in creating cap space but it is not going to be easy. Myers would also have to waive his NTC. It would also be hard to replace Myers on the right side of the blue line which already isn’t very good.

If Myers does get traded he could go in a package for Boeser or Garland but it also would be tough to avoid acquiring another big contract coming back.

Travis Hamonic: Probably won’t get traded

Another name that has been thrown out in the rumour department is Travis Hamonic.

His name was also mentioned by Dreger on Sekeres and Price but also by Chris Johnston on Wednesday’s edition of That’s Hockey on TSN.

Hamonic has improved in recent games scoring a few goals but throughout the season he missed time due to a personal issue and an injury. He also has made some pretty bad defensive mistakes.

Hamonic signed a two-year contract worth three million dollars in the offseason and he also has an eight-team no-trade list.

Like Myers, it will be hard to replace him on the right side and I’m not sure if there is enough value for him thanks to all the time he has missed and his poor defensive play.

Jaroslav Halak: Probably won’t get traded

It’s been a tough season for Jaroslav Halak and he ended up getting pulled in his last two starts.

Halak also has a no-move clause and already received his bonus of 1.25 million due to starting 10 games this season. That will count against next year’s cap.

A bunch of teams need help with goaltending, particularly the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs. The situation is still unclear on whether or not Halak will get traded but it would be tough to find interest in him due to his poor performances. I would bet on him not getting traded but again, things could change.

Which Canucks do you think will be traded? Are there any players I missed? Let me know in the comments below or in the Facebook comments or on Twitter!