Canucks trade Thomas Vanek to Columbus for Tyler Motte and Jussi Jokinen
6 years ago
The Vancouver Canucks have sent forward Thomas Vanek to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Jussi Jokinen and Tyler Motte.
There have been some reports that the Canucks may be receiving different players and this post will be updated.
Jussi Jokinen was signed by the Edmonton Oilers in the off-season after being bought out by the Florida Panthers in the summer. He was later traded to the Los Angeles Kings, and then was waived two months later and claimed by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has one goal and six assists in 46 NHL games this season. He had cleared waivers earlier this morning.
Motte was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks and was moved to the Blue Jackets in the offseason as a part of the Artemi Panarin and Brandon Saad deal. He has appeared in 31 NHL games this season and was limited to five points. Motte had a strong NCAA career but hasn’t been able to translate that offensive production to the professional ranks. Motte is a bit of grinding forward who has flashed that offensive potential, but at this point, he may not be able to realize that. He has rebounded well this year in the AHL with nine goals and two assists in 17 games with the Cleveland Monsters:
That increase in production this year has seen his pGPS cohort percentage increase:
Thomas Vanek was signed in the off-season, and the impression was that he would be flipped for an asset at the deadline, which we now kow happened today. The fanbase was hoping for a draft pick return for the veteran winger, but it appears the organization wanted to target another early twenties player who hasn’t been able to secure a full-time spot in the NHL and a veteran winger on an expiring deal.
With that being said, this fits exactly into what Canucks management has been preaching for the last few months, which is getting young twenties players who can help them now.
This return can be seen as disappointing as the organization still only has six draft picks for the 2018 NHL Draft. But this deal fits into the same mould as many other trades over this management’s regime.
