NHL Insiders Say Canucks Aim to Get Ahead with Early Trade Talks

When Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet was on the Donnie and Dhali The Team on Monday, he mentioned that Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford does not like the mix of his team, and he is looking to change things up. 

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“It’s very obvious guys, like, all you have to do is listen to talk it and to Rutherford. Yep, they don’t. There’s something about their mix right now that they don’t like.”

When Rutherford decides it’s time to make a move, he acts decisively. His track record speaks for itself—from his days in Carolina to his successful tenure in Pittsburgh, and now in Vancouver. If there’s a player he wants, Rutherford finds a way to get the deal done.

Friedman added:

“They want to see how this goes. But on the other hand, he’s got a wish list. He’s like, Santa, I’ve got my list. I’m checking it twice. I’m gonna find out who’s gonna be naughty and nice. And if he can do that, he will do it. So I just think he’s been and also, the other thing about Rutherford you have to remember is that he likes to go early. He does not like to wait. He likes to go early. He sees what he wants and he goes and gets it.” 

Last year we saw the Canucks make the move to get Nikita Zadorov in November. Not long after that, he traded for Elias Lindholm on January 31st.

What Are The Needs of the Vancouver Canucks 

So what could the Canucks actually be looking for? Well, according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN on the latest edition of Insider Trading, they are looking to add a top-four defenseman and winger. 

LeBrun said:

“They’re making their 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-four d. That’s certainly the top item for the Vancouver Canucks, but also a winger.”

The push for a top-four defenseman comes as no surprise. Considering the team’s struggles since Filip Hronek went down with a long-term injury, it’s become a priority. While Hronek is expected to return before the end of the regular season, the Canucks remain determined to bolster their blue line, believing they need additional depth to stay competitive.

LeBrun Agreed that the Canucks Will Act Early

Again, as LeBrun stated, similar to Friedman on Donnie and Dhali, when Jim Rutherford and GM Patrik Allvin want to do something and identify an area, they will fill that need before anyone else. 

“And the one thing about the Vancouver Canucks, you know, Jim Rutherford is the President of Hockey. Patrik Alvvin is a GM. Jim Rutherford’s tradition and desire of trying to trade way ahead of the deadline is well established, and last year, on January 31 they got ahead of the market on Elias Lindholm and traded for him that early,” LeBrun said. “And so it certainly wouldn’t surprise me if the Canucks are able to go find a top 4d and or a winger that they get this done sooner rather than later. Obviously it has to fit cap wise. It has to fit fit-wise. But the Canucks are certainly making their calls.”

So the Vancouver Canucks are a team that has the desire to get something done after the holiday freeze. Maybe they do circle back to Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres. 

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