On the Vancovuer Canucks …
Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: The Canucks trading defenseman Chris Tanev and somehow landing the No. 3 pick from Dallas is gaining little traction.
Both Cale Makar and Miro Heiskanen could both be gone at No. 5 unless one of the Stars or Avalanche pick a center.
The Canucks could use some depth down the middle and GM Jim Benning could look at trading down and netting two first rounders. Select two centers in the first and then draft a puck-moving defenseman at No. 33.
“We’d only do that (move down) if we were going to get a player we targeted,” said Benning.
The Canucks could also consider packaging their No. 55 pick and try to get in to the back half of the 1st round.
“We’ve identified players from No. 20-30 that if they’re there — and there’s a way back into the first round — we’ll look at,” said Benning.
On the Calgary Flames …
Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun: Flames GM Brad Treliving has been looking for a top-four defenseman on the trade market.
Treliving didn’t offer up much when asked about what they could be looking for when they pick at No. 16.
“different shapes, sizes and positions.”
“We’re hopeful that one of the players that we have circled drops to us,” he said.
Treliving later continued:
“At No. 16, we’re very confident we’re going to get a really good player there. Now, one thing I would say — and you say it every year at this time and then you’re proven wrong in October — is that the number of players that I think are ready to step in … That’s not a deciding factor of why you pick or don’t pick a player, but we’ve seen a handful of guys each year step in. I think that’s going to be a shorter list this year. You get by the first two, three maybe. I think there’s a little bit longer runway with guys.”