Sven Baertschi On Trade Block Out of Vancouver?

If a report from Vancouver Canucks insider Rick Dhaliwal of TSN is accurate, the Vancouver Canucks have put forward Sven Baertschi on the NHL trade block. An interesting decision considering other recent reports that the Canucks are looking to add a top-six forward before the NHL Trade Deadline.

Even more interesting, there is speculation this potential trade is a potential given thanks to a request from the player and his agent. As per Dhaliwal’s quoting Baertschi’s agent, Andre Rufener:

‘We would like to get traded, I am in contact with Jim Benning, he knows that.’ That wasn’t all, however:

“I am not happy with the way this season has gone for Sven, he played well when he was in the NHL, in my opinion he did not get the opportunity he needed,” said Rufener.

Is Baertschi Getting the Shaft?

There’s an argument that can be made here that Baertschi hasn’t gotten the looks he might deserve to. He’s played in just six NHL games this season and has two assists in those six games. But, in the AHL for the Utica Comets, he’s recorded four goals and 18 assists for a combined 22 points over his 15 AHL games in the 2019 – 2020 season.

What kind of return the Canucks can expect to get is unclear but there will likely be interested teams. Can the Canucks tackle two birds with one stone by using Baertschi to add to their existing top-six forward group?

If not, the Canucks might need to find two new forwards when all of this is said and done.

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