On the Vancouver Canucks …
Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: So far the Canucks have showed loyalty to Alexandre Burrows and Jannik Hansen and haven’t asked them to waive their no-trade clauses. That could change though.
“We’re going to see where we’re at,” said Canucks general manager Jim Benning, who’s on a European scouting trip. “I’ll have individual conversations with those players and their agents, but we’re hoping we can stay in the (playoff) fight. But it’s a tough trip.”
Both Burrows and Hansen could get plenty of interest leading up to the deadline. With the New Jersey Devils being able to get a fourth round pick for Vernon Fiddler, could the Canucks get a second or third round pick for Burrows?
The Montreal Canadiens had a scout at that Canucks game on Saturday and they are looking to add a center and some bottom-six help.
Burrows on his no-trade clause.
“I haven’t heard anything,” added Burrows. “I want to make the playoffs with this team, but things can change really quickly in this business. I’ve learned that. I think with the Canadian media, it (no-waive NTCs) was just to take you guys off his (Benning’s) back a bit to calm the storm down instead of being asked about it every day or every week.”
Hansen has a modified no-trade clause – he submits of a list of eight teams he’d okay a trade too.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Bob McKenzie was on TSN 1040 talking about the Vancouver Canucks. The results of their road trip will determine if they are buyers or sellers, but regardless, MacKenzie doesn’t think they will buyers. They aren’t really in a position to give up future assets.
“What’s more likely to happen is… barring a surprise run of victories on this difficult road trip – and they’re not a great road team to begin with – then they’re more likely to sell. But again, you have to keep in mind – what are they selling?
“The Sedins – that’s not happening. Edler, Tanev – I don’t believe that’s happening. So then you look at the guys on expiring contracts. That’s Alex Burrows and Ryan Miller, basically. You’ve got lower-end guys like Skille, Megna, and Larsen, but let’s be honest here – the higher-profile guys will be Burrows and Miller. We know Burrows has a full no-trade. We know Miller has a modified no-trade. And we know that in the fall, Jimmy Benning said that he wouldn’t try to trade those guys. But obviously I think the position now – and I think Benning alluded to it a little earlier this week a little bit – was, ‘Well, depending on what calls you get, you would be obliged to take those to those guys to see what they think and see if they’ve got a desire to go elsewhere.’”
GM Jim Benning at some point will look at trading a defenseman for a forward. They could look at moving Ben Hutton for a forward of similar age and talent.