On the Vancouver Canucks …
Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: Forward Thomas Vanek isn’t part of the top-tier of wingers available at the trade deadline, but he could go in the second wave of forwards.
Vanek could bring some added depth to teams like the Nashville Predators and Boston Bruins, or maybe get a larger role with someone like the Anaheim Ducks or Columbus Blue Jackets.
“I don’t know what kind of value he’s going to have at the trade deadline,” Canucks GM Jim Benning said Monday. “Teams will call in the next seven to 10 days if they’re interested in him.”
All it takes is one trade, one team to overpay, to increase the value of someone like Vanek. It could turn a third-round pick to a second-round pick.
It’s possible the Canucks could trade Vanek at the deadline and then look to re-sign him in the offseason.
“The first thing we have to get through is to see if he does or doesn’t get traded. Even if he didn’t get traded, I’m not sure we would make an immediate decision — even if there was an offer. We would take our time and just kind of weigh things.”
Ed Willes of the Vancouver Province: The Vancouver Canucks need to be younger and faster next season, they can’t sell another season playing older and slower players.
Buying out Loui Eriksson would send the message that they are going in a new direction. He’s been a disappointment for the past two seasons and is taking away playing time from someone younger. It wouldn’t be a cheap move.
The Canucks can’t bring Vanek back next season.
If the Canucks were in a different situation, re-signing defenseman Erik Gudbranson could make sense. He’s not a top-four defenseman, but he brings size, toughness, penalty-killing. Someone may pay a premium for that.