Just one week away from the NHL Trade Deadline, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli published his latest NHL Trade Targets board, highlighted by 45 players.
Of those 45 players, Seravalli listed just four players on teams who currently hold a playoff spot…three of those players were Vancouver Canucks: Carson Soucy at #8, Brock Boeser at #12, and Elias Pettersson at #25 – Colorado Avalanche’s Casey Mittlestadt was the only other player, coming in at #6.
And that somewhat paints the Canucks’ picture doesn’t it? With the recent play from the team, it looks like they’re trending toward being sellers or staying put, but they certainly don’t look to be buyers at this trade deadline.
However, what do we know? We know this management group wants to compete. Former Canucks assistant general manager Laurence Gillman joined Sekeres & Price earlier this week and said, “I would say rebuild is not in the lexicon of the Aquilini family.”
So, ownership wants to compete, but the team should be sellers. Maybe they can do both?
By that, we mean trading some of the expiring assets – Brock Boeser, Pius Suter, Carson Soucy, and Derek Forbort – on the team while still buying some low-acquisition replacements to help the current team for whatever playoff push they have left in them.
We found four potential targets the Canucks could look to bring in:
#11 Joel Armia
Seravalli’s Scoop: Maybe it’s because he’s previously passed through waivers that Armia has been overlooked, but he shouldn’t be as a bottom-six addition at this deadline. Armia has an absolute cannon of a shot, which is a valuable asset. He also has a decently-sized frame at 6-foot-3, and he’s played well in a shutdown role this season on a line with Jake Evans and Emil Heineman. They’ve been among coach Marty St. Louis’ most trusted players. Sounds like a sneaky good add to a contender.
Armia is a 31-year-old right winger. He has 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points through 59 games while averaging 14:39 minutes per game. The Finnish forward is a reliable two-way player who fits the prototype of what the Canucks covet. Armia’s shot is an underappreciated asset, ranking in the 86th percentile in top shot speed at 91.19 MPH, and he set a career high 17 goals just last season.
The Montreal Canadiens winger has just one year remaining on his $3.4 million contract. He likely wouldn’t carry a heavy price tag, either. A solid comparable for Armia would be Jack Roslovic from last season, who garnered a conditional fourth-round pick.
The difference is that Roslovic had two 40-point seasons – Armia’s career high is 30 – and was four years younger than Armia is now. But Armia makes up for his point totals with his defensive play and penalty kill ability.
While the Canadiens are the closest they’ve been to a playoff position in years (five points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets), selling off expiring depth pieces for assets at this point still makes sense for their future.
#14 Gustav Nyquist
Seravalli’s Scoop: There hasn’t been much buzz about Nyquist during this deadline period, but he’s one of the pieces that GM Barry Trotz will almost definitely be moving, and someone is going to get a quality addition for a bargain price. Nyquist had 23 goals and 75 (!) points last season in Nashville. Yes, his production is way down this season, but he has experience as a deadline acquisition – so it won’t be a shock – and he’s been pretty consistently productive in the playoffs, with 22 points in his last 42 postseason games.
Nyquist is a 35-year-old right winger. He has nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points through 57 games while averaging 17:39 minutes per game. Despite his older age, the Swedish forward still has a nice offensive touch, setting career highs in points with a whopping 75 through 81 games last season.
There aren’t a lot of trade comparables to go off of for an older, offensive talent. Maybe close to an Anthony Duclair trade? The Lightning sent a third-round pick and defensive prospect Jack Thompson to the San Jose Sharks for Duclair. Given the age difference, maybe they just stick to the pick and no prospect.
The Nashville Predators winger is in the final year of his $3.185 million deal, and with the struggles his club is having this season, it would be surprising to see him return. The Predators sit third last in the Western Conference and 16 points behind the Canucks for the final Wild Card spot. They will likely look to get any sort of value for their assets.
#27 Lukas Reichel
Contract: 1 year remaining, $1.2 million AAV
Seravalli’s Scoop: A mostly miserable season is winding down for Reichel, who has been a healthy scratch at both ends of it, most recently on this Blackhawks road trip. What will Chicago do with the 2020 No. 17 overall pick? They obviously don’t have to move him. They’d prefer a hockey trade. But there’s enough teams intrigued by his high-end speed and talent that will overlook his lack of consistency and compete, thinking they can turn him into a more complete player.
Reichel is a 22-year-old left winger. He has five goals and 11 assists for 16 points through 50 games while averaging 12:11 minutes per game. The German forward has some blazing speed, ranking in the 87th percentile top speed score, clocking in at 23.04 MPH.
The former 2020 first-round pick had a strong 2022-2023 stint, scoring seven goals and eight assists for 15 points through 23 games. However, it just hasn’t fully translated afterward, topping out at 16 points. He has one year remaining on his $1.2 million contract.
It seems shocking that the Chicago Blackhawks would be trading a young talent when they are so desperate for that, but if he’s getting healthy scratched, maybe finding a new home is what’s best for both sides. 22-year-olds aren’t typically on the trade block, so finding a comparable player isn’t always easy.
Considering the Blackhawks are looking for a hockey trade, would a player like Max Sasson or Arshdeep Bains and a later-round pick get something like this done? They are young players who have gotten a taste of NHL action.
#28 Justin Brazeau
Contract: Pending UFA, $775,000 AAV
Seravalli’s Scoop: It’s been a wild season for Brazeau, who won himself a roster spot during last year’s playoffs. He’s already collected 10 goals this season – and he’s still playing on a two-way contract, making the league minimum this season. The Bruins are up and down, and they likely won’t be paying him, so he’s a solid bet to move. No matter what, he has playoff experience, and his next contract this summer will be life-changing either way.
Brazeau is a 27-year-old right winger. He has 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points through 55 games while averaging 12:59 minutes per game. The Canadian has the scoring touch and physical edge, standing at 6’6″, that excels in a bottom-six role.
The undrafted forward has so little NHL experience; it’s tough to gauge what return he would demand. Maybe close to an Anthony Beauvillier deal, around a fifth-round pick return. He’s one year older than when Beauvillier was traded, with significantly less experience, but coming in at a very affordable one-year $775k deal might be worth a later-round pick.
What do you think, Canucks fans? Are any of these low-acquistion cost forwards you’d like to see the Canucks add? Or is there somebody else from Daily Faceoff’s Trade Targets board you’d like to see them add? Let us know in the comments below!
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