Vancouver Canucks Trade Jared McCann to Florida Panthers for Erik Gudbranson

Vancouver Canucks Trade Jared McCann, a 2nd Round Pick, and a 4th Round Pick to Florida Panthers for Erik Gudbranson and 5th Round Pick

Vancouver Canucks trade Jared McCann to the Sunshine state for defenseman Erik Gudbranson.

Announced via Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston on Wednesday night, the Vancouver Canucks trade Jared McCann, a 2nd round pick, and a 4th round pick to the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Erik Gudbranson and a 5th round pick.

All three of the picks involved are for this June’s 2016 NHL draft. Vancouver’s fifth rounder being sent by the Panthers is originally ownership of the New York Islanders. No salary was retained in the deal.

McCann, 19, was the 24th overall pick for Vancouver in 2014, and just completed his rookie season posting 18 points in 69 games.

Gudbranson, 24, just signed a one-year extension for $3.5 million dollars with Florida, and will is still eligible for RFA status next offseason.

This is a trade that fills a need for both teams, and at the same time subtracts from a position of strength for both sides.

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For the Vancouver Canucks, they have a number of promising young prospects on the way in coming years. They also have depth up the middle with Brandon Sutter and Bo Horvat.

The only thing missing is a true no.1 center to eventually replace Henrik Sedin. When it comes to 2nd/3rd line depth up the middle, McCann is more of a luxury, and it be unfair to force him to the wing.

The acquisition of Erik Gudbranson helps add another top four stay-at-home body who is still young enough to grow with the new core post-Sedin twins-era.

A right-handed shot, Gudbranson could realistically be paired up with Ben Hutton on the second pairing in 2016-17, essentially replacing the need to re-sign an aging Dan Hamhuis.

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via Sportsnet,

Gudbranson scored twice and added seven assists in 64 games for Florida this season. He also appeared in six games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Ottawa native was third on the Panthers in hits with 150 while averaging 20:06 of ice time per game.

For Florida, they get a talented 19-year-old center to add to their mix of young forwards. It was a somewhat down year for Nick Bjugstad coupled with injuries that exposed the Panthers lack of depth up the middle. Expect McCann to challenge with the likes of Vincent Trocheck and Nick Bjugstad for top-six minutes in training camp.

Next: Vancouver Canucks End of Year Review, Grades

Overall, this a good deal for both teams. Each side is able to add something their team can use by trading positional strength.

As the Vancouver Canucks trade Jared McCann to Florida for Erik Gudbranson, we wish both players all the best as they start a new chapter in their NHL career.