No, the Canucks aren’t trading for the second overall pick

Rumour season is in full swing for the Vancouver Canucks. This one certainly raises some eyebrows.

The NHL Draft Combine is underway in Buffalo and will end on Saturday. Juraj Slafkovsky is projected by many experts to go second overall in this year’s draft. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek spoke to Slafjovsky at the combine and they shared a few notes from their conversation with him on the latest episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast which was released on Friday morning.

You can listen to the podcast here. Here is what Marek said about Slafkovsky. (Starts around the 7:00 minute mark)

“We asked Slafkovsky about it because he’s a winger, but we asked about playing centre as well and he has played centre before in his life. He said that a few teams asked him if he would be able to play centre at this point or play centre in the NHL. He was trying to remember and the two teams he gave us were New Jersey and Vancouver as he was trying to remember which teams asked him if he would play centre as well.”

The Devils hold the second overall pick and the Canucks hold the 15th overall pick.

Friedman responded to Marek’s comments with a “wait, wait, wait, wait, wait” and said they could be making something out of nothing but that is what sports podcasting and sports discussion are all about.

“Why would the Vancouver Canucks be asking Salfkovsky if he can play centre?” asked Friedman. “They’re not getting him at 15.”

“Unless they move up,” responded Marek.

“Thinking emoji!” replied Friedman.

“I think you have to always do your due diligence,” continued Marek. “What would it cost to get into the top three? I think everybody has those conversations. Just like you (Friedman) talked about the other day, you know, Tom Fitzgerald of the New Jersey Devils making a list of ok, who from which teams would we be willing to trade the second overall pick for? I think if you’re any team, you know, you’re the Los Angeles Kings or the Dallas Stars or the Washington Capitals or in this case, the Vancouver Canucks, I think you see what it costs, don’t you? If you’re gonna see what it costs and if you’re fine with it, then I think you have the obligation to be as thorough with your interviews as possible.”

So it looks like the Canucks are exploring the idea of trading up in the draft.

Friedman reported a couple of weeks ago that the Devils are considering trading the number two pick. The question is what would it cost for the Canucks to acquire it?

A high pick being traded always involves a really good player. J.T. Miller is one of those.

Yes, I know. More Miller trade talk! Ugh. You can’t escape it. Discussion about Miller potentially getting traded is everywhere from blogs, (like this one) Twitter, Sportsnet 650 and the numerous Canucks podcasts.

The Canucks would probably have to give up one of their prospects and possibly the 15th overall pick as well.

Since it is likely the Canucks want a big package for Miller names like Ty Smith, Alexander Holtz and Shakir Mukhamadullin are names they would inquire about.

But as fun as it is to speculate on rumours like these, this one isn’t happening. I’d be shocked if it were.

If the Devils, wanted to trade the number two pick, it wouldn’t be for a 29-year-old with a year left on his contract. Plus, why would the Devils trade the pick anyway? Slafkovsky has a ton of potential and him joining the likes of Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes would be good for them.

For the Canucks, Miller isn’t good enough for the second overall pick and if they were to get it, they would have to trade someone like Quinn Hughes or Elias Pettersson for it. Trading for the second overall pick is a pipe dream for the Canucks. Yes, you never know what could happen in hockey but I’ll my hat if this one becomes reality.

I don’t mind them exploring the idea but it just seems impossible.