On the Vancouver Canucks …
Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: The Canucks have three marketable trade assets in Alexandre Burrows, Ryan Miller and Jannik Hansen. Burrows and Hansen have created some trade talk already.
“I don’t know if (game) results have a big impact because there are so many variables that go into this,” Canucks president of hockey operations Trevor Linden said of the lead-up to March 1. “There has to be interest and the right fit, and people just assume with 29 others teams there has to be a fit.
“There are complications with players having control over the process (no-trade clauses) and the biggest thing is going to be not breaking our plan. We’re going to continue to add players and get younger and develop the players we have.
“The (NTC) situation is a bit fluid. We’re monitoring where we are in that process, and we’ll see where we are and we’ll know a lot more after the weekend.”
GM Jim Benning will eventually talk to the players that have no-trade clauses. All three of Burrows, Hansen and Miller have versions of NTCs.
Burrows – destinations could be the New York Rangers or Montreal Canadiens.
Hansen – The Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins could use a winger.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Elliotte Friedman on Sportsnet 960 talking about the Vancouver Canucks, Willie Desjardins and the approaching deadline. Willie Desjardins contract expires after the season. There could be a coaching change in Vancouver eventually.
“The other thing about Vancouver is their messaging is, ‘We’ll see where this goes.’ I have a theory on this,” explained Friedman. “Everything that gets said in Vancouver turns into a five-alarm blaze. I think they’re just trying to keep it as quiet as they possibly can. I find it very hard to believe that they’re looking at this saying, ‘We’re keeping everybody.’ It just doesn’t make any sense to me.
“I just think that they’re probably just saying, ‘Look, this is our way of not talking about it publicly, so we don’t turn this into a grease fire.’
Friedman notes the Canucks have some interest in re-signing Ryan Miller. Friedman wonders if the Anaheim Ducks would be interested in Miller as a renter.
“But Miller’s got the choice. I think he’s got a five-team list that he can be traded to. I wouldn’t be surprised if Anaheim is on it. But I do think Vancouver has considered the possibility of bringing him back and that’s not news. They’ve kind of admitted that’s the case.”