Vancouver Canucks Trade Needs Identified, per TSN Insider
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The Vancouver Canucks have been losing more than winning lately, and that has led a TSN insider to discuss possible trade options that could help the team.
With the NHL's Christmas trade freeze to take hold this Thursday at midnight, TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun joined Gino Reda to break down what positions the Vancouver Canucks are targeting as they make their calls.
The freeze looms, and for teams hoping to do business, time is slipping away. Off to a rather mediocre start to the season, the Canucks lately managed to scratch their way into a wild-card position in the West. They want to buy, but what are they buying?
Pierre LeBrun notes that the Canucks are "fairly aggressively" exploring their options, and one word trickling out amongst league sources in no uncertain terms is a top-four defenseman or winger.
«Yea, they're making calls and word is getting around when you talk to sources around the league about what the Canucks are calling about, and certainly a top need has been identified. A Top 4 D, that's certainly a top item for the Canucks, but also a winger and so they're looking for both.»
- Pierre LeBrun
- Pierre LeBrun
The need for a defenseman shouldn't be a surprise. The Vancouver team hasn't been the same since Filip Hronek went down with his long-term injury.
While he's expected to return before the end of the season, the Canucks are intent on fortifying their depth from the back end in his absence.
The Vancouver Canucks are also interested in getting a winger who would complement the group of forwards.
The Canucks, especially under the regime of President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford and General Manager Patrik Allvin, have a history of getting in ahead of it.
Jim Rutherford has made no secret of the fact that he prefers being proactive ahead of all the chaos from the trade deadline.
Take last season, for instance, in which Vancouver made its big move on January 31st, well ahead of when the market got crazy.
The Canucks shouldn't be considered out of the running, either, if the right fit, be it with regards to cap space or roster needs, comes along, and it shouldn't be that surprising if a move happens sooner rather than later.
From what's seemed to be a topsy-turvy season, Vancouver appears to have a pretty good feel for their roster, and they seem ready to take action about these key areas.
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