Luke Schenn will sit out of Canucks’ Tuesday night game for trade-related reasons: reports

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Luke Schenn will be sitting out of the club’s road matchup with the Nashville Predators tonight. Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie and Dhali — The Team was the first to break the news.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman also confirmed Dhaliwal’s reporting, tweeting that Schenn will indeed be sitting out tonight. Earlier today, Dhaliwal also reported that there have been no contract extension talks between the Canucks and Schenn’s camp as of today.

“It was quiet for a while on Luke Schenn, but being told it’s starting to heat up again,” said Dhaliwal. “The goal for the Canucks obviously folks is to get a second or third rounder for Luke. If you’re getting a fourth or fifth rounder you might as well just resign the guy.

“I can say to you this morning there’s been no contract extension talks between the Canucks and Luke Schenn. This is gearing towards a trade with 10 days to go [to the Trade Deadline]. If the Canucks get a decent pick. I think you’ll see them make that move.”

If he does in fact sit out tonight, Schenn certainly wouldn’t be the first person to be held out of his team’s lineup for trade-related reasons this season, as we’ve already seen Jakob Chychrun and Vladislav Gavrikov both sit out of their teams’ games.

Dhaliwal did also report later that Schenn is flying home to Vancouver. Schenn’s wife is due to give birth right around the trade deadline which is only ten days away. Dhaliwal confirmed that the absence is trade-related.

Talks surrounding Schenn have heated up lately, with the Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, and Calgary Flames believed to be the teams most interested in landing the veteran blue liner.

Schenn has a very team-friendly contract, and given his past cup-winning experience and overall solid play this year on the Canucks’ blueline, he’s an ideal rental candidate for many contending teams around the league looking to stock up on defensive depth.

Through 55 games this season, the 33-year-old has tallied three goals and 18 assists, good enough for 21 points, which is just shy of his career-high of 22, a mark Schenn has reached twice in his career.

Read today’s scenes from morning skate article to get you prepared for tonight’s game by clicking here!

More to come.