On the Vancouver Canucks …
- Bob McKenzie: The Canucks have let all teams know that they are open for business on Linden Vey, Matt Bartkowski, Ronalds Kenins, Adam Cracknell, Chris Higgins, Brandon Prust and Yannick Weber.
- Bob McKenzie: Vey and Kenins are pending RFAs. Cracknell, Bartkowski, Weber and Prust are pending UFAs. Higgins has a year left.
- Ben Kuzma: Canucks coach Willie Desjardins said that Radim Vrbata could be out for a week. That might hurt his trade value at the deadline.
- Bob McKenzie: The Canucks intend to sign newly acquired Philip Larsen and have him join the team for next season.
- Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Canucks: With Keith Yandle likely off the trade market, Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis will likely get more interest. Hamhuis does hold the power with his no-trade clause.
“We’ve been working through some thoughts and to be prepared,” said Hamhuis. “And certainly, if going is the direction, we would have to give them (Canucks) some time to make a deal happen.”
The Stars and Penguins could be two of the teams interested in Hamhuis.
“If you look at it from a pure hockey aspect — if I was chasing the money — leaving would be the best option to have the most exposure, if I was traded to a top-end team,” said the 33-year-old Hamhuis. “But there’s more to it than that in my decision. I look at it that it’s a great situation in Vancouver for me and for my family. I certainly would consider what that would do to the family, too.
“In some aspects, four months is a long time to be away (from family), but in the bigger picture, it could be a small amount of time. Either way, it would be a difficult situation and that’s a major factor.”
Hamhuis’s next deal will likely be his last multi-year deal. He could look at four-year deal and more than his current $4.5 million cap hit.