Vancouver Canucks Trade Rumors: Five Potential Forwards That Could be Targeted
With NHL training camp right around the corner, the Vancouver Canucks are still in the hunt for a scoring left winger, and continue to be linked in trade rumors. They failed to sign Jiri Hudler or Brandon Pirri, and still have a considerable hole along the left side entering September. So, who could Canucks GM Jim Benning have on his radar via trade? Lets take a look at five candidates, with a little twist of course.
David Shin is a Vancouver Canucks super fan, having watched all 82 of their games from last season and spending most of his time browsing the web about his favorite hockey team. For this article, I brought in David to give his opinion on how the following five players fit in on the Canucks, based on age and past production.
Vancouver Canucks Trade Rumors: Five Trade Candidates
Gabriel Landeskog
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Ever since TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that Landeskog was in play in trade talks, trade rumors have taken a whole new life.
The 23-year-old fits Jim Benning’s description of a gritty, offensively inclined left winger and has good leadership.
David’s Take: Gabriel Landeskog & Bo Horvat would provide a good leadership core in Vancouver after the Sedins are gone. He’s a good core player who has elite all-around ability. The Canucks need scoring, and Landeskog is a proven 20-25 goal scorer. My only concern is what’s going back to Colorado and how that would affect the Canucks.
Patrick Marleau
With the Sharks suddenly overflowing with depth on the left side, trade rumors involving the 36-year-old Marleau have once again started to appear. Marleau reportedly gave the Sharks a list of three teams that he would waive his NMC for. Would Marleau do it for the Canucks?
David’s Take: Marleau is simply too old and doesn’t fit with the Canucks long-term plan. He’s in decline and would only have one or two semi-productive seasons in Vancouver. Salary Cap is another issue. On the bright side, he would only cost a 2nd-3rd round pick to obtain.
Scott Hartnell
Earlier this summer, it was reported that the Blue Jackets were trying to move Hartnell.
The Canucks have been one of the many teams listed as a potential destination for the 34-year-old.
David’s Take: Why would you acquire Hartnell if you can sign Alex Tanguay for a year or two? Tanguay is arguably just as good as Hartnell and a lot more cost-effective. Yes, Hartnell’s a proven 20 goal scorer, but he’s aging and when you have a playing style like Hartnell, your body starts to wear down around the same age he is right now. Not worth it, especially not $14.25M over 3 years.
Rick Nash
Rick Nash has been subject to trade rumors since the beginning of the summer, and with the Rangers current youth movement it only seems logical to peg Nash as a trade candidate.
David’s Take: Nash can still put up solid numbers for the rest of his contract, which only has 2 years left. He’s a power forward who fits into the Canucks system, and provides much-needed goal scoring. I think Benning could offer up Edler for Nash and that’d be good enough. Only downside is cap hit.
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Tobias Rieder
Rieder, an RFA, seems to be in some sort of contract stalemate with the Coyotes. When it was reported the 23-year-old forward was talking a KHL contract, trade rumors evidently followed.
David’s Take: Why pass up on an opportunity to grab an up and coming 23-year-old left winger? Rieder has solid upside and I would be fine to offer him 7 years $28M. I can see him putting up 40+ points with Horvat and Virtanen on the Canucks second line.