3 Wingers the Canucks Should Consider Trading For

Though the Canucks have been among the league’s most active teams this off-season, the daunting reality is that they likely haven’t done enough. For all their bluster, next year’s team likely isn’t good enough to make it to the dance.

That’s why Canucks general manager Jim Benning is exploring the trade market for a quality winger to better their chances. He’s not exactly been shy about it, either. The always candid (often, too candid) executive revealed to The Province that he’s looking to add a winger with size and a scoring pedigree to shore up their offence.

Given the logjam on each wing and the question marks therein, that’s not really a bad plan. Of course, that depends almost entirely on the player they trade for and what they surrender for their services. I’ve a few ideas in mind, though, so let’s take a look at players the Canucks should consider. 

For whatever reason, it appears as though the Colorado Avalanche’s front office is annually at odds with one of their star players. And even when they’re not, their internal budget can often force them to part with players they’re otherwise fond of.

Considering that Gabriel Landeskog is their captain and signed through the 2020-21 season, he’s not fallen into that category yet. You have to wonder, though, when Jason Botchford is suggesting that Landeskog is ‘apparently available’ as he did in his free agency post-mortem article. 

Assuming the validity of Botchford’s report (and based on his track record, we have every reason to), Landeskog should be the Canucks plan a, b and c. Landeskog is 23-years-old, has accumulated 246 points in 356 games and has proven to push the possession needle in the right direction for much of his young career.

Prying a young captain from a rebuilding franchise, theoretically on the upswing, will prove costly. Think Christopher Tanev as the starting point — though, one can dare to dream after the Edmonton Oilers traded Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson. That would create a glaring hole on the Canucks right side, though. That’s worth considering.

Beyond the obvious problems with their books, the Red Wings blue line leaves much to be desired. That’s a problem they’ve probably anticipated for years now, as their previous attempts at prying Alexander Edler will attest.

Perhaps the Red Wings circle that wagon. They were rumoured to have offered the Canucks a package that included Brendan Smith, Tomas Tatar and a draft pick in advance of the 2013-14 season. If Benning can secure that package, the Canucks might be better for it. Though, it’s fair to wonder if, given their long-term cap woes, the Red Wings won’t try to move Gustav Nyquist and his hefty $4.75-million against the cap annually.