Canucks Close to Selling Several Pieces: 4 Names That Could Be Traded

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The Vancouver Canucks appear ready to sell. According to reports from both The Fourth Period and The Athletic, general manager Ryan Johnson is open to trading several veterans, including Jake DeBrusk, Drew O’Connor, Filip Chytil, and Luke Schenn. There might even be a world in which Elias Pettersson is dealt. Needless to say, the Canucks are listening on more than one player, and it could lead to a bit of a roster blow-up.

The point is to get younger and add NHL-proven talent to the roster. That could mean making deals with teams that need impact players who can help now and acquiring younger, somewhat unproven pieces.

On a 10-game losing streak, after the Canucks’ ninth regulation loss of the season, Brock Boeser did not hold back. “I don’t know where the disconnect is,” he said. “I don’t know if guys just aren’t listening, if our structure isn’t working, or what it is. It’s embarrassing.”

He’s likely not the only player feeling embarrassed about the way things are going and it won’t be long before the organization says it’s time to start making moves.

Which Canucks Are Most Likely to Be Traded?

Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston believes the Canucks are clearly positioned to be sellers. He wrote that Jake DeBrusk, a strong skater who has topped 20 goals five times, doesn’t fit the rebuild timeline. This is also the final season of his contract, which includes a full no-movement clause, so it is the last year he controls his destination. Johnston added that rising salaries around the league are making his deal look more attractive. Nick Kypreos also questioned whether DeBrusk fits Vancouver’s long-term plans, calling him a player the Canucks will explore trading.

Luke Schenn is a veteran who won’t play a huge role on a new team, but he’s a proven winner with a defined role on and off the ice. He described the Canucks as a group that starts games with the right mindset but fades. It’s got to be hard for him to be on a team that seems to quit, being that he’s been described as the kind of player who goes full tilt all the time.

Drew O’Connor is another candidate. Johnston noted that the pending UFA is playing top-line minutes but is better suited to the bottom six, even though he scored 17 goals for Vancouver last season. He is a big, physical player and has been an effective penalty killer throughout his career. Someone like the Edmonton Oilers could certainly use him given their depth issues.

Could the Canucks Make a Blockbuster Deal?

On the blockbuster side of things, Elias Pettersson could also draw interest. Johnston said the Swede has improved noticeably after two difficult seasons, which makes him more appealing as a trade option. His $92.8 million, eight-year extension, signed in March 2024, has been hard to live up to, but the sticker shock is fading as salaries climb.

With the losses piling up, expect Vancouver’s phone lines to stay busy.

Next: 5 Potential Trade Destinations for Blue Jackets’ Dmitri Voronkov