Rumour roundup: Canucks “working hard” on Boeser trade, LA Kings like Thatcher Demko
1 year ago
Just a day after the Canucks sat Luke Schenn out of their lineup for trade-related reasons, we’ve got rumours galore, and only one of them has to do with Schenn! Let’s get that one our of the way first.
Luke Schenn
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman had an entry about Schenn in his latest 32 Thoughts Blog. Here’s what Friedman had to say about the veteran blueliner:
27. Vancouver Canucks: Luke Schenn was scheduled to return home, out of the lineup until dealt. As of Tuesday night, I’m not convinced the team is finalized, but I do think after a quiet few days, talks around him intensified to the point where there was a feeling it would happen. If Vancouver didn’t get at least a third, they weren’t going to do it.
Rick Dhaliwal has been right on top of this story, and after being the first person to break that Schenn was sitting out and that he was flying home to Vancouver, Dhaliwal reported today that Schenn will not play until a trade is made.
Kings will consider Demko
Here’s what Friedman had to say about the LA Kings’ situation:
11. Los Angeles Kings: The Kings are looking for a left-shot defender with term. They’ve definitely pitched Jakob Chychrun, and another player who makes sense for them is Jake McCabe. They poked around Gavrikov, but doesn’t sound like there was a contractual fit. The other question is what they’re thinking in goal. At times, it’s sounded like they may wait until summer to address the long-term fit. I believe they’re going to consider Thatcher Demko, but that may not be possible before the deadline.
Obviously, the notable part for Canucks fans is the part about goaltender Thatcher Demko. While Demko has made it clear he doesn’t want out of Vancouver and hasn’t requested a trade, that hasn’t stopped teams from inquiring about the San Diego-born netminder, who picked up Vezina Trophy votes last season.
Demko is signed for
The Canucks have made it clear that they’re not ready to compete and that they need to take a step back before they take the necessary steps forward to become a contending team. It would likely take a King’s ransom — pun partially intended — for the Canucks to part with Demko, and given the prices that goaltenders typically go for on the trade market, combined with Demko’s injury history, the Canucks may not get what they feel is a sufficient offer.
It’s no surprise that the Kings, who have been connected to Demko in the past, would be interested in the young netminder. With Jonathan Quick not getting any younger, the Kings are looking to put the finishing touches on their young roster, which appears very close to being ready to contend.
Canucks “trying hard” to trade Brock Boeser
Friedman also had an entry about Brock Boeser in his column today. Here’s what he said:
”They are working hard on Boeser too. Ive had mixed messages on Washington, some sources saying there’s never been interest, some saying there has. Whatever the case, it’s complicated. It’s unlikely anything happens with JT Miller, but I think teams wanted to see what the Canucks might be willing to do. If there’s a group of players who can’t wait for this to end, it’s this group.“
Boeser’s agent Ben Hankinson, who also represents Luke Schenn, spoke with Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic about Boeser potentially going to the Minnesota Wild.
About a potential uniting between Boeser and the team he grew up cheering for, Hankinson said:
“There’d have to be a lot of salary retained by Van, and I don’t think that’s something they’re too excited to do, because they just signed Boeser. Billy would have to have them eat a big, big chunk of that $6.65 (million) to fit him in next year and the year after.”
The March 3rd trade deadline is just nine days away, and the Canucks are certainly a team worth keeping an eye on as it approaches.
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