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Arizona Coyotes and Vancouver Canucks Working on an NHL Draft Trade

Are the Vancouver Canucks and Arizona Coyotes working on a trade that could happen before the NHL Draft?

As per Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff, the Arizona Coyotes have called the Vancouver Canucks and offered an opportunity to work out a deal between the two teams. Specifically, for a price, the Coyotes have made the Canucks aware that they’ll be open to accepting contracts the Canucks aren’t crazy about.

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This is not an unfamiliar move for the Coyotes who have made a habit out of taking on poor-value contracts in an effort to collect draft picks and prospects or get to the salary cap floor. While the Buffalo Sabres were the first this offseason to do it — they just added Ben Bishop of the Dallas Stars for future considerations — the Coyotes are the NHL’s leading franchise when it comes to taking on money that they don’t actually have to pay out or have a lesser actual salary than they do a cap hit. They are also known for taking on players teams have given up on.

Canucks and Coyotes trade rumors
Canucks and Coyotes trade rumors

In this case, the Coyotes would actually be taking on useful players as the Canucks don’t have a lot of dead cap space to trade. Micheal Ferland might be the closest, but he’s on LTIR. That deal would be more about doing the Coyotes a favor in getting to the floor.

Assuming the Coyotes and Canucks can find a player that both sides see as a potential trade piece, the Canucks will then have to determine how much they’re willing to pay to move out money? Or, if the Canucks are looking to simply make roster changes, are there players on the team that they are thinking about shipping out and getting assets back in return? What would they be willing to give up (what sweetener) to make a move?

There is already chatter the Canucks are looking to move up in the draft this year. Speculation is that they’ve got their eyes on highly-touted prospect Juraj Slafkovsky.

Canucks Looking to Shake Things Up

According to Nick Kypreos and John Shannon, they believe Jim Rutherford has spoken with his new GM Patrick Alvin and suggested it’s time the Canucks make some roster changes. While in conversation with Bob McCown, both insiders suggested Rutherford doesn’t like what he feels is a “country club” atmosphere in the locker room. Wanting to put his fingerprints on this team and “make a splash”, there will be changes this summer.

The Coyotes are a team that can help the Canucks move pieces.

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