Good morning, Canucks fans.
Hope you enjoyed your summer, because OMG WTF is happening??
One of the most respected insiders in hockey, Elliotte Friedman, dropped this nugget Wednesday morning.
There is a sense today that Erik Karlsson trade talks have picked up in the last few days. Most likely destinations appear to be Western Conference. There is also a belief VAN has stepped in to see if it is a match.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 22, 2018
The Vancouver Canucks, supposedly a rebuilding team, have “stepped in” on the Erik Karlsson talks.
This will be baffling for most, and for good reason.
Karlsson has been on the trade block ever since things went sideways for the Senators last season, but this is the first time the Canucks have been mentioned as a suitor.
While Karlsson is undoubtedly one of the best defencemen in the game, he’s also 28-years-old. The assets to acquire him would need to be significant – and young. You can’t get a player of Karlsson’s calibre without trading a premium young asset – perhaps a Quinn Hughes or Elias Pettersson, plus more.
Calling other general managers is part of Jim Benning’s job, but the fact this has leaked to the media should lead fans to believe that their conversation was more than a 30-second one.
Raymond, Ballard, and a third-round pick isn’t going to get this done.
The Canucks are probably still long shots to land the Sens’ captain, who is likely to get dealt given that he’s entering the last year of his contract and Ottawa is a mess. Friedman mentioned a Western Conference team is likely to land him. The Vegas Golden Knights, who were reportedly in on Karlsson at the trade deadline, make a lot of sense.
Immediate Canucks fan reaction to this news was, as you can imagine, one of confusion:
Elliotte, why
— brendan (@paper_seas) August 22, 2018
And here we go….. pic.twitter.com/WDvd9uzyfi
— SHAP DADDY (@SHAP4LIFE) August 22, 2018
Van? Is Benning trying to blow up the farm now that Linden isn't there to stop him?
— Kyle Murphy (@kylemurp13) August 22, 2018
Vancouver? pic.twitter.com/4E7dTurtKk
— Warren Fisher (@feedthefish79) August 22, 2018
Why would Karlsson want to come to Vancouver? This coming from a Canuck fan.
— Richard Watts (@rich56ca) August 22, 2018
GM Jim Benning swindled the Sens in the Alex Burrows / Jonathan Dahlen trade, but this seems unlikely:
Juolievi a first rounder a 2nd and baerstchi. For karlsson and bobby ryan
— Ali Al-mudaffer (@boeser6141) August 22, 2018
More likely:
any OTT ask from #Canucks for Karlsson would surely start with Quinn Hughes and 2019 first that could be Jack Hughes…and would go from there
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) August 22, 2018