3 under-the-radar trades that could reinvigorate the Canucks at the deadline
The Canucks have hit a speed bump in February, so one of the NHL’s best teams could use another asset or two at the deadline to become almost unstoppable.
With very little cap space for the trade deadline, it would be tough for the Vancouver Canucks to pull off a blockbuster deal. And while it would be great to see a familiar face like Chris Tanev return to British Columbia and help Vancouver win a Stanley Cup, it wouldn’t be the most feasible move unless the Calgary Flames were willing to trade the blueliner and retain some of his salary.
But there may be more affordable players looking to be moved shortly before or on March 8th, and they too could help reinvigorate what has for the most part been an awesome Canucks team despite their recent mediocre play. So, which under-the-radar moves could help Vancouver stay consistent until perhaps June 2024?
Casey Mittelstadt would make an elite scoring team unstoppable
Few players have fared as well as Casey Mittelstadt since December 2022, and this late-bloomer is looking every bit like the former first-round pick the Buffalo Sabres used on him. While trading Mittelstadt would make little sense for Buffalo for a variety of reasons, if the Canucks offer the right price for the surging center, then even a team looking to hold onto their young talent like the Sabres would probably send him to British Columbia.
For one, Buffalo has an outstanding prospects pool, so they can easily replace Mittelstadt. And for another, the 25-year-old is in the final year of his deal. He also wouldn’t cost the Canucks a ton of money in cap space to bring aboard, and the Sabres can afford to retain some of his remaining salary.
Numbers-wise, Mittelstadt has 44 points and 13 goals in 55 games this season, and while he struggled with injuries earlier in his career, he’s also played in 137 straight contests between October 13th, 2022, and February 19th. That said, Mittelstadt has shed the injury-prone label.
Ilya Lyubushkin is an underrated blueliner who would work wonders in Vancouver
From a current Sabre to a former Sabre, Ilya Lyubushkin has enjoyed a remarkable year with the struggling Anaheim Ducks, and he would make a sound defensive addition to a Canucks team that has allowed 17 goals in its previous three contests. With those numbers in mind, it’s clear Vancouver needs someone on their blue line who can be a disruptive force for the remainder of the season.
Through 52 contests this year, Lyubushkin has already put up a career-high in blocked shots with 132, and his 104 hits have him well on pace to snag another career-high should he stay healthy. While it’s tough for anyone to be a huge help in preventing goals in Anaheim, Lyubushkin did an outstanding job helping the Sabres in the defensive zone last season.
During his lone stint in Buffalo, Lyubushkin’s on-ice save percentage sat at 91.1 at even strength and 91.6 at 5-on-5. Vancouver’s penalty kill could also be better, and fortunately, Lyubushkin helps out there, having logged nearly 154 minutes so far in 2023-24.
Sean Walker is an excellent consolation for Rasmus Ristolainen
With Rasmus Ristolainen shelved for the foreseeable future, the Canucks would probably look elsewhere if they wanted to trade for a blueliner other than Lyubushkin. While Ristolainen was linked to the Canucks per The Fourth Period, it would have been a challenge to fit him into the lineup thanks to his salary.
Luckily for Vancouver, there is another solution in Philadelphia should they end up selling at the trade deadline despite their successful start to the 2023-24 season. Sean Walker has a much more manageable salary, and he would bring a balanced approach to the Canucks.
Walker has 20 points in 56 contests, 81 blocks, 74 hits, and a solid 28 takeaways through February 20th. He’s also a focal point in the offensive zone, given Philadelphia’s solid 52.8 Corsi For Percentage and 54.9 Fenwick For when he’s on the ice in conjunction with 53.8 percent starts coming in the offensive zone.
Overall, Walker would be an excellent consolation should a potential trade asset like Ristolainen miss extended time and potentially most of the remainder of the regular season. While Walker isn’t a huge name in Canucks circles, it would be wise to keep an eye on him.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference as of February 20th)