7 potential trade returns for Vancouver Canucks veteran players
When Jim Rutherford called the Vancouver Canucks a “team in transition,” I’m not sure if this is what he had in mind.
The Canucks are currently one of the worst teams in the NHL, boasting a below-average offence, along with the worst goals-against average in the NHL.
Yes, the defence has struggled immensely, even with Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek and Marcus Pettersson on the roster.
That’s why it’s no surprise that the Canucks have let other teams know that they’re willing to trade veteran players in exchange for younger assets.
One of the benefits for Vancouver right now is that there aren’t many sellers on the market.
Honestly, the Canucks might stand alone as the one key seller among bottom-feeders.
How many clear-cut sellers exist among the 10 worst teams? (NHL.com)
So, if the Canucks do start selling veterans, what exactly does that look like?
Here’s a look at seven veterans on the Canucks, along with what they could realistically get in return.
1. Kiefer Sherwood
Kiefer Sherwood has been one of the lone bright spots for the Canucks this season,
He’s scoring and hitting everything in sight, all while playing on a bargain $1.5 million cap hit.
It’s no surprise that CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal reported on Tuesday that he’s the Canucks’ trade chip gaining the most traction.
What the Canucks could get: The peak is probably what the Philadelphia Flyers got for Scott Laughton. Sherwood, although he’s a winger and not a centre, scores at a higher clip, hits more, and can play both power play and penalty kill.
Laughton was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, along with fourth and sixth-round picks, for youngster Nikita Grebenkin and a first-round pick.
In a potential Sherwood deal, it’s conceivable that the Canucks may have to add minor assets if they want to pull a middling prospect and a first-rounder from an organization. Or, maybe they could just target one good, young player instead.
2. Conor Garland
The Canucks signed Conor Garland to a six-year contract extension worth $6 million per season back in July.
For now, however, he has no trade protection. And, you could envision the feisty competitor wanting to play in a winning environment, something he hasn’t experienced much of throughout his career.
What the Canucks could get: If players like Anthony Beauvillier and Brandon Tanev can fetch second-round picks, could Garland be worth a first?
If teams prefer to hold onto their first and deal a young player instead, that player should have first-round pick value.
Trading with a team like the Minnesota Wild, who have a deep pool of prospects, could make sense. How about 2022 first-round pick Liam Ohgren, a 21-year-old Swedish left winger who scored 37 points in 41 AHL games last season and has 38 games of NHL experience?
The Utah Mammoth could be a team to consider for either Garland or Sherwood. They finally look like a legitimate playoff team, and they have a ton of young assets in their organization. The Canucks aren’t getting Caleb Desnoyes or Tij Iginla, but could they pry Danill But from the Mammoth?
3. Evander Kane
It’s been an underwhelming debut for Evander Kane with the Canucks. (Bob Frid/Imagn Images)
The Evander Kane experiment hasn’t worked out for the Canucks.
Sure, you could look to his low shooting percentage and say he deserves better, but that’s a bit deceiving when you consider he’s among the league leaders at shots from low-danger areas.
What the Canucks could get: The Canucks would be lucky to get a fourth-round pick back for Kane. Maybe they could get a fifth-rounder, much like the Boston Bruins got for taking on Viktor Arvidsson’s contract during the offseason. Perhaps a hot streak from Kane could increase his value.
4. Jake DeBrusk
Jake DeBrusk is in the second year of a seven-year deal paying him a reasonable $5.5 million per season.
While the 28-year-old has piled up the power-play goals this month, his play at even strength continues to be an issue.
What the Canucks could get: DeBrusk doesn’t have to go anywhere since he has a no-move clause.
However, this is a player who’s used to being in the playoffs. Would he welcome a move to a contender?
Andrew Mangiapane is a player who made $5.8 million per year and had similar point totals to DeBrusk when he was traded in the 2024 offseason for a second-round pick.
The Colorado Avalanche could be an interesting fit for DeBrusk, considering they lack a top-six left winger behind Artturi Lehkonen and have struggled on the power play this season.
5. Teddy Blueger
The Canucks have already played most of this season without veteran Teddy Blueger, who’s been limited to two games.
Blueger has been in trade rumours dating back to last summer, before the Canucks traded Dakota Joshua.
What the Canucks could get: Frederick Gaudreau was traded from the Wild to the Seattle Kraken for a fourth-round pick last offseason. He’s outproduced Blueger offensively, but isn’t as reliable defensively or on the penalty kill.
6. Derek Forbort
Right now, there’s no timetable for Derek Forbort’s return. When healthy, he’s a solid, third-pairing defenceman and also an excellent penalty killer.
What the Canucks could get: If Vincent Desharnais can be traded for a fifth-round pick, Forbort should at least net a fourth-rounder.
7. Drew O’Connor
Drew O’Connor has been one of the few Canucks this season who have actually played above expectations. He does have some trade protection with a 12-team no-trade list. But if the Canucks want to sell high on players, they could look to trade him.
What the Canucks could get: Mathieu Joseph produced at a similar clip to O’Connor when he was traded from the Ottawa Senators to the St. Louis Blues in the 2024 offseason in exchange for a third-round pick.
That’s in the ballpark for what O’Connor could fetch, unless the Canucks can flex their muscle as one of the lone sellers on the market in an effort to juice the return.