That the Vancouver Canucks are going to make another trade is not much of a prediction. That’s more of an inevitability.

That the Canucks are going to make another trade at some point between now and the opening of the 2023/24 season is a little bit bolder of a claim, but only barely. We’ve already written at length about the roster glut on the wing, and about the team’s impending difficulty as it pertains to getting the current roster underneath the salary cap.

Put those two things together, and if another trade isn’t inevitable, it’s at the least very, very likely.

But then, what sort of trade are we talking about?

Oftentimes, we discuss potential transactions in the general, broad-view sense; selling this excess winger for picks, finding a cheap 3C from somewhere on the market, and etcetera. Only rarely do we get specific with it, because, frankly, NHL trades are complicated things with lots of moving parts, and that makes them darn-near impossible to prognosticate accurately.

But today, we’re going to give it a shot anyway.

Below, you’ll find four very specific trade proposals, covering the four players we think are most likely to be moved between now and October. We’re certainly not suggesting that all four should happen simultaneously, only that they represent four different options for the Canucks to meet their trading goals. What goals, you ask? Creating cap space, reducing roster excess, and maybe just moving on from a player that GM Patrik Allvin and Co. would rather be without.

Let’s get to it.

Nashville receives: Anthony Beauvillier

Vancouver receives: A 2024 second round pick

Why Nashville does it: Under the new management of Barry Trotz, the Predators are retooling, not rebuilding. They bought out and shipped out ample veterans this offseason, but also brought a number in via free agency, including Ryan O’Reilly, Gustav Nyquist, and our old friend Luke Schenn.

Will it be enough to compete in the Central? That remains to be seen, but it’s clear at least that the attempt will be made.

One thing that Nashville finds itself quite short on, however, is veteran scoring support. The only wingers they have on the roster making more than $2 million AAV are Nyquist and Filip Forsberg, who is set to start the season on IR. At least some of the almost $8 million in cap space currently held by the Predators should be spent on scoring, and Beauvillier is as fine an option as any available on the market.

Beauvillier’s cap hit is manageable, he proved his ability to put up numbers in a new situation last season, and he has none of the reported character issues that Trotz has made clear he wishes to avoid. For one of three 2024 second round picks currently owned by Nashville, the price is probably right, too.

Why Vancouver does it: In this case, it’s all about reducing the roster glut. The Canucks trade Beauvillier if they decide that moving one or more of Conor Garland, Brock Boeser, or Tanner Pearson is too onerous, and more specifically to create room in the top-six for one of Nils Höglander or Vasily Podkolzin.

The immediate cap savings don’t hurt, either, and could allow the Canucks to stay under the cap even with Tucker Poolman on LTIR, which would let them accrue cap.

Plus, an extra second round pick is definitely something that the Canucks could use. They might be able to cash Beauvillier in for more if they wait ‘til the Trade Deadline, but not that much more.

The Canucks probably ask Nashville for their earliest second rounder, the Predators probably counter with their latest, and the two teams settle on the middle pick. Easy. 

San Jose receives: Tyler Myers (no retention, signing bonus paid)

Vancouver receives: A 2024 fourth round pick

Why San Jose does it: We’re cheating a little here, because we pretty much know that the Sharks were interested in Myers earlier in the offseason.

We imagine that any such trade is contingent on the Sharks having dealt Erik Karlsson away first, and then the rationale isn’t too hard to figure out. At that point, the San Jose RHD situation will consist of Matt Benning and the ghost of Marc-Edouard Vlasic. It’s not as if they’re trying to compete, but having Myers on the backend should at least keep the blueline respectable enough to avoid pissing off vets like Logan Couture and Tomas Hertl, and to avoid scuttling the development of prospects like William Eklund and Thomas Bordeleau.

Myers comes cheap at $1 million in salary owed after his signing bonus is paid, so long as both teams can wait until September to close this one out. As an added bonus, the Sharks should then be able to retain on Myers at the Trade Deadline and walk away with a higher pick than they paid for him in the first place. Win-win.

Why Vancouver does it: It’s mostly about cap space. Pull this one off, and the Canucks suddenly have an extra $6 million to play with, which allows them to ice whatever roster they want, Poolman included, and still stay well under the ceiling. Keeping some of that cap space available throughout the year should result in a number of interesting options presenting themselves as other teams try to jockey the salary limit.

There’s also an element of it being time to move on for both the player and the team. Myers has had a rough run here in Vancouver, and with the blueline already undergoing a massive rehaul, there’s probably not better time to cut bait.

This whole idea becomes far more appealing if the Canucks are able to turn around and spend some (but not all) of Myers’ cap space on a replacement RHD, like perhaps Matt Dumba on a cheap one- or two-year rebound deal. Trade Myers at $6 million, sign Dumba at $4 million, and come out of it a better team overall.

Chicago receives: Tanner Pearson (50% retained)

Vancouver receives: A 2025 fourth round pick

Why Chicago does it: We already have a good profile of what sort of players the Blackhawks are seeking out in order to insulate Connor Bedard with. They handed out preposterous one-year deals to Nick Foligno and Corey Perry, both veteran wingers with gumption and a lot of postseason experience.

So why not pick up one more for cheap?

Looking at the Chicago depth chart, there’s definitely room for more skaters at the NHL level. If he truly is fully recovered from his multiple surgeries, Pearson looks like perhaps an even more ideal mentor for Bedard than either of Perry or Foligno. He’s won the Stanley Cup, and he’s also made a career out of being in the top-six despite a lack of footspeed, meaning he’s had to learn an awful lot of tricks along the way.

And you know that Pearson is going to be willing to step in whenever he feels his younger teammates are being abused.

Pearson at 50% retention hits the books at $1.625 million, which we’re pretty sure the Blackhawks and their $14 million in available space can afford. If things don’t work out, another 50% worth of retention at the Trade Deadline probably gets a decent pick back, too.

Why Vancouver does it: It’s quite possible that both the Canucks and Pearson are seeking a fresh start after a nightmarish 2022/23. Even if that’s not the case, flipping Pearson and half of his salary away opens up more than $1 million in cap space, and that’s vital wiggle room for cap management purposes.

Even if the Canucks make no further trades, just this one would be enough for them to maximize Poolman’s LTIR placement and fit everyone else they need to onto the active roster.

Ottawa receives: Conor Garland

Vancouver receives: Mathieu Joseph, a 2025 third round pick

Why Ottawa does it: We did hear Garland’s name in connection with the Senators last season, so there is some interest there. Ottawa already looks a little light on the wings, and that could become doubly true if anything comes of any ongoing NHL investigations.

Garland fits fine enough into the Senator’s top-nine, but his salary still gives him negative value under the current NHL market. That’s why we have the Sens sending back Joseph in this scenario, a slightly younger player with the same term, but a lower salary (albeit, still overpaid to a degree.)

Why Vancouver does it: To create cap and roster space, for one. Because Garland has yet to really fit in in Vancouver and doesn’t seem on track to do so anytime soon, for two. And because Joseph probably fits better into a bottom-six role than Garland ever did, for three.

There’s no doubt that this would be a risky trade for the Canucks, especially with the possibility of Garland’s production exploding once properly utilized in Ottawa. Then again, Joseph has thrived in a bottom-six role before, and could very well do it again. Either way, he’ll be an easier contract to move on from if things don’t work out, and the third round pick serves as fair compensation for the obvious discrepancy in skill-level.