Sounds like Vancouver Canucks might move Pius Suter before trade deadline
The Vancouver Canucks are approaching Friday’s trade deadline still needing to make decisions on their pending free agents.
While much of the noise has surrounded Brock Boeser in recent weeks, it’s Pius Suter who has emerged as the most likely Canuck to get traded before the deadline.
The pending unrestricted free agent Suter is “likely to be moved,” per Postmedia’s Patrick Johnston and still “far apart in contract talks” with the Canucks, per CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal. The noise surrounding Suter’s name has jumped up a level.
The Canucks and Dallas Stars were reportedly working on a Suter deal, per The Hockey News’ Adam Kierszenblat, although no trade seems imminent at this time.
He’s currently on a steal of a contract worth $1.6 million per season, a number he’ll get a huge raise on, perhaps as much as double, on his next deal.
The Swiss native has already set a new career-high in goals this season with 16 and has 28 points in 59 games. He can play multiple positions and has lined up everywhere for the Canucks, from first-line winger to fourth-line centre.
Suter is also defensively responsible and is first among Canucks forwards in short-handed ice time per game, ranking only behind blueliner Derek Forbort for second on the entire team.
The combination of Suter’s two-way game, goal-scoring touch, and cheap contract make him very attractive as a deadline acquisition for any teams looking to stock up for the playoff push.
The Canucks are in a dogfight of their own as they try to make the playoffs. As of today, they’re two points behind the Calgary Flames for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, although the Canucks have a game in hand.
Trading Suter would weaken the centre group, a position that’s already one of the worst on this Canucks roster. Management is reportedly trying to add centres, not get rid of them, and trading Suter would be counterproductive to that goal.
However, if the gap between Suter’s demands and the Canucks salary number is too large, a trade makes a lot of sense. The 28-year-old could likely fetch a second or third-round pick as a rental. The Canucks could either hold onto that pick or flip it for another player that can help today.
The deadline is fast approaching, and the Canucks still have plenty of options available. With a few days to go, Suter now seems like the most likely departure before the weekend.