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9 young players with big potential the Vancouver Canucks could target in a trade

Trevor Beggs
Trevor Beggs
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Jul 25 2025, 8:38 pm
9 young players with big potential the Vancouver Canucks could target in a trade
Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images

Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin is at a crossroads, and the next big move he makes could define his tenure.

Allvin has been searching for a second-line centre after being forced to trade J.T. Miller in January. It’s been said that there is no replacing Miller, but what if there is?

Two of the best trades in recent NHL memory involved the acquisitions of Miller and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel.

Miller, of course, hadn’t really fit in with the Lightning, and Tampa was in a cap crunch. Miller quickly went from a second-liner to a star in Vancouver.

Hagel was slightly younger (23) than Miller (26) when the Chicago Blackhawks dealt him to the Lightning. While Hagel was on the rise, the Lightning also paid a steep price (two first round picks plus two young forwards) to acquire him.

Since the trade, much like Miller, Hagel has blossomed from second-liner to All-Star, and was even picked to play for Team Canada at the 4 Nations tournament.

Nevermind Jack Roslovic or tinkering around the edges with players like Evander Kane. Allvin has been an aggressive GM thus far, and his next move should circle around trying to find a guy that could be the next Miller or Hagel.

Here are some potential trade targets with high upside.

1. Mason McTavish (Anaheim Ducks)

The longer current restricted free agent Mason McTavish remains unsigned, the louder whispers will get about his potential departure from Anaheim.

McTavish, 22, just had a career season but found the ire of his head coach at times.

If they can’t work out a new contract, the return might look something similar to the Hagel deal: two first round picks and two young players, or an equivalent. Acquiring him won’t be cheap.

2. Alex Newhook or Kirby Dach (Montreal Canadiens)

The Montreal Canadiens have completely rebuilt their team since their Stanley Cup Final loss in 2021.

However, two players who could be looking for fresh starts may be Alex Newhook and Kirby Dach. Both can play centre and be physical, but both have taken a step back with the Habs. With Ivan Demidov now in Montreal, along with the acquisition of Zach Bolduc, it’s conceivable that Newhook or Dach could be dealt.

3. Alexis LafreniĆØre (New York Rangers)

Long linked to the Canucks given that his former agent, Emilie Castonguay, is Vancouver’s assistant GM, these rumours have quieted down following the Miller trade.

However, until Alexis LafreniĆØre discovers his potential, he’s a name worth watching. He’s just beginning a seven-year deal worth $7.45 million per season. The Rangers will be expecting him to be much better than the player who had 17 goals and 45 points last season.

4. Cole Sillinger or Dmitri Voronkov (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Much like the Canadiens, the Columbus Blue Jackets are flush with young forwards pushing for ice time.

That could leave both Cole Sillinger and Dmitri Voronkov as players on the outside looking in.

Sillinger hasn’t been able to top the 16 goals he posted in his first NHL season four years ago. With Sean Monahan, Adam Fantilli, Boone Jenner, and Charlie Coyle able to play centre (not to mention top prospect Cayden Linstrom coming soon), it’s easy to see the Blue Jackets try to give Sillinger a fresh opportunity.

Dmitri Voronkov is big and can score, but his Russian counterpart Kirill Marchenko emerged as the core piece for Columbus last season, which could make Voronkov expendable.

5. Kappo Kakko (Seattle Kraken)

Kaapo Kakko was able to take a step forward with the Seattle Kraken following his departure from the Rangers last season. However, he did fade a bit down the stretch after a hot start with the Kraken.

Kakko is set to enter arbitration with the Kraken. He wouldn’t be the first guy to be traded following an arbitration settlement if Seattle doesn’t like the outcome.

6. Dylan Cozens or Shane Pinto or Ridly Greig (Ottawa Senators)

Could Dylan Cozens follow a similar path to Miller?

After Tampa Bay acquired Miller at the 2018 trade deadline, he immediately scored at a point-per-game rate. However the following season, Miller underwhelmed. Cozens could be a player to watch on the trade market if he follows a similar path.

Shane Pinto and Ridly Greig are both young centres with some scoring touch and a high work rate. If the price is right, could either of them be pried out of Ottawa?

7. Josh Norris (Buffalo Sabres)

Because he’s good friends and a former college roommate of Quinn Hughes, Josh Norris will always be on the trade-market radar for Canucks fans.

Norris only played three games with the Sabres before getting injured following the trade deadline. If he gets off to a subpar start in Buffalo, an organization that has missed the playoffs for 14 straight years can’t afford to be patient with an injury-riddled 26-year-old, can they?

8. Tyson Foerster or Owen Tippett (Philadelphia Flyers)

Acquiring either of these Philadelphia Flyers forwards might have made more sense if Thatcher Demko was still available, or if Arturs Silovs was still with the organization, considering Philadelphia’s desperate need for a goaltender.

Tyson Foerster is more in the mould of Hagel as a trade target. He’s 23 years old, has size, and improved his point totals last season.

Owen Tippett might be the more realistic trade target. He’s 26 years old and saw both his production and ice time dip last season.

9. Alex Laferriere (Los Angeles Kings)

While the ceiling might not be as high as Hagel, there are similarities between him and Alex Laferriere.

Neither player was a highly touted prospect, but both slowly ascended to the NHL thanks to a blend of physicality and a burgeoning scoring touch.

After losing in the first round for four straight seasons, the Kings could be desperate for a shakeup. Based on their puzzling offseason under new general manager Ken Holland, that may be the case.

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