The Vancouver Canucks have been seeking to purchase a defenceman for some time now, however the scenario acquired a bit extra dire when it was introduced that Filip Hronek would miss eight weeks after present process a process on his decrease physique. Whereas the entrance workplace has mentioned they are going to be affected person of their pursuit, the desperation may enhance if Noah Juulsen and Erik Brannstrom begin faltering of their elevated roles. Often, a workforce can perform within the quick time period with out a key ahead/defenceman, however over time, the gamers filling in for them get in over their heads.
Associated: Canucks Inventory Market: Demko, DeBrusk, Hoglander, Klimovich & Extra
The Canucks don’t have a number of property on the subject of prospects. They seemingly aren’t keen to commerce blue-chippers like Tom Willander and Jonathan Lekkerimaki, so roster gamers and draft picks would be the forex common supervisor Patrik Allvin makes use of to improve his workforce this season. One participant that has been bandied about in commerce rumours is Nils Hoglander, who hasn’t scored in 21 video games and has seen his ice time and function lower just lately. As soon as a fixture within the top-six alongside Elias Pettersson, he has been relegated to the underside of the lineup and is somebody that would fetch the Canucks a top-four defenceman – perhaps not on his personal, however in a bundle with draft picks or a mid-tier prospect. With that, let’s check out a pair they need to goal.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are all the time a workforce that comes up every time the Canucks are within the hearsay mill. Allvin and Jim Rutherford are aware of a number of their gamers and have perception into their prospect pipeline. What’s fascinating although is that they’ve by no means really made a commerce with them since becoming a member of the entrance workplace in 2022 and 2021 respectively. They’ve signed a couple of gamers which have performed for the Penguins previously however have by no means acquired one from the present group.
Which may change this season as insider Elliotte Friedman indicated in his most up-to-date 32 Ideas column that the Penguins have “actual curiosity” in Hoglander and are one of many high groups pursuing him. The Canucks are in all probability focusing on defenceman Marcus Pettersson in return, however early indications are that it could require much more than simply Hoglander to get him. They’d probably have so as to add a prospect like Elias Pettersson and a draft choose to the bundle.
It’s no shock that Rutherford and Allvin are serious about Pettersson as Rutherford was the one which traded for him again in 2018 when he was GM of the Penguins. The 28-year-old has develop into a strong top-four defenceman within the NHL averaging over 20 minutes an evening for the final three seasons. He additionally isn’t afraid to throw his physique in hurt’s manner, hitting the century mark in hits and blocked pictures in each 2022-23 and 2023-24. He’s mainly a youthful, extra cellular Ian Cole, somebody the Canucks have missed this season on the blue line. The one draw back to buying him is that he may very well be a rental like Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm ended up being final season.
Hoglander is the kind of participant that Penguins GM Kyle Dubas appears to covet; excessive vitality forwards with the propensity to create havoc on the forecheck. In some ways, he’s a youthful Michael Bunting, who Dubas has now acquired twice in his tenure as an NHL GM. He would match nicely within the backside six or perhaps alongside Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin as a puck retriever for the 2 future Corridor of Famers.
Mike Matheson, Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens shall be in promote mode once more this season as they presently sit lifeless final within the Atlantic Division. Veterans shall be up for grabs main as much as the commerce deadline, and Mike Matheson and David Savard shall be on the high of GM Kent Hughes’ listing on the subject of trades. The Canucks might go after both one, however contemplating Matheson is 4 years youthful and signed for subsequent season at a manageable $4.875 million common annual worth (AAV), he must be the precedence. Whereas he does have a modified no-trade clause that features eight groups, given the very fact he performs for a Canadian workforce already, I’m guessing the Canucks should not on that listing.
The Canadiens would probably need a first-round choose included within the cope with Hoglander, however Matheson can be value the additional value. He’s a cellular, puck-moving defenceman who has a historical past of placing up factors. Final season, he had 11 objectives and 62 factors, and whereas that could be a flash-in-the-pan stat line, he already has 15 factors in 25 video games this season. Like Pettersson, he has a historical past with Rutherford, as he too was acquired by the previous Penguins GM. A couple of weeks earlier than the 2020-21 season, he traded Patric Hornqvist to the Florida Panthers for Matheson and Colton Sceviour.
Matheson is a left-hand shot however has expertise taking part in either side, so he might match nicely with Quinn Hughes till Hronek comes again, assuming a commerce is completed earlier than then. Proper now, he’s taking part in on the fitting facet subsequent to Kaeden Guhle, who can also be a left-shot, so he wouldn’t have to regulate his sport when he arrives in Vancouver. He’s additionally a minute-muncher, able to taking part in on each the facility play and penalty kill and offering physicality. Total, he can be the proper addition to the Canucks’ defence corps.
It’s only a matter of value, and whether or not Kent Hughes is keen to commerce his key defender for Hoglander and a draft choose, moderately than what my colleague Ryan Szporer believes he’ll covet, high prospect Tom Willander and a 2025 first-round choose.
Being 23 years outdated, Hoglander would mesh with the Canadiens’ ongoing rebuild and match with the core that’s being developed with Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov. His work ethic and energetic play fashion would additionally match with how Martin St. Louis likes his groups to play, endearing him to his head coach straight away, in contrast to Tocchet and Bruce Boudreau, who finally soured on him.
Canucks Ought to Use Hoglander, Not Willander or Lekkerimaki in Commerce Talks
The Canucks solely have two reliable blue-chip prospects proper now, Lekkerimaki and Willander. Except it’s for an eye-popping return, Allvin ought to say no to any proposal involving them. Sure, they want a top-four defenceman, but when Dubas or Hughes need Willander or Lekkerimaki in a bundle for Pettersson or Matheson, Allvin wants to hold up the telephone. They don’t seem to be value promoting the farm for. I’d even hesitate so as to add a prospect like Elias Pettersson or a first-round choose to the combo, however you must surrender one thing to get one thing, so that may need to occur to get a deal accomplished. All in all, the Canucks have to be cautious when buying and selling for a top-four defenceman this season. They’ll’t afford one other Lindholm/Zadorov debacle that left them with out each gamers when the mud settled on free company.
