The Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks are in the midst of working through a trade surrounding Jake Virtanen, according to multiple media reports.
Both Rick Dhaliwal and Thomas Drance made note of the discussions Saturday afternoon, with the former making mention of Langley native Danton Heinen’s name popping up. Drance, meanwhile, noted that nothing is believed to be imminent “for now.”
Certainly hearing Canucks and Ducks are still talking about a Virtanen trade.
The Langley kid Danton Heinen’s name has popped up.
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) February 27, 2021
#Canucks and Ducks have been grinding away on a potential Jake Virtanen deal, but I’m told that nothing is imminent for now.
Probably fair to say that any momentum has slowed over the past few hours, but this one is still worth watching.
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) February 27, 2021
Virtanen, 24, was drafted by the Canucks sixth overall in the 2014 draft, but has been off to a brutal start to his 2020-21 campaign. This all the while coming off his best season in the NHL that saw him score 18 goals and as many assists in 69 games, both being career highs.
He’s seen a drop in his ice-time this year, too, falling from last year’s 13:05 TOI/Gm to only 11:06 a night this year. Virtanen has scored 51 goals and 96 points in 298 career games.
Heinen, meanwhile, was taken by the Boston Bruins in the 4th round of the 2014 draft, but only played three and a half seasons there. Heinen was traded by the Bruins to the Ducks last February in exchange for Nick Ritchie.
Over his career, Heinen has appeared in 246 games scoring 40 goals and 113 points.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
