It seemed like a foregone conclusion going into this season that both of Thomas Vanek and Erik Gudbranson would be gone by the end of the trade deadline. Both are pending unrestricted free agents, and neither seemed like a good fit for the future of the team.

For varying reasons, it sounds like the Canucks are entertaining the possibility of signing not one but both of the veterans to next season and potentially beyond. The only reason that would be semi-justifiable (this team being in the thick of the playoff chase) isn’t one of them. The Canucks are well out of the race. Sports Interaction will offer attractive odd and betting options for playoff races moving forward.

So, that explains where I sit on this issue. Based on the short and long-term outlook of this club, I just can’t come to terms with any reason to re-sign either of Gudbranson or Vanek. This team should be focused on the long-term — think three or four years, not one or two. Signing either of those players seems remarkably shortsighted.

What do the CanucksArmy writers think, though? That is the question, since it’s the Friday Roundtable.

Why keep Gudbranson when you could trade him for Alex Galchenyuk to appease Marc Bergevin’s final wishes to burn his franchise to the ground before he walks away from the flames?

No.

If the Sedins are gone I could live with keeping Thomas Vanek around. It would still be bad, but I could live with it. I’m absolutely out on Gudbranson under all circumstances. If another team signed him to league minimum and he was placed on waivers, I wouldn’t even pick him up.

Trade both of them. Gudbranson can be replaced with any number of defensemen. Vanek’s agent, according to a Rick Dhaliwal tweet last week, has already said Vanek is open to being traded and coming back as a UFA in the offseason. So if you want him next year, bring him back, meanwhile, get an asset back for him and give Goldobin or someone else a good, honest look down the stretch. There is literally no reason to keep either beyond the deadline.

Gudbranson is not an NHL regular anymore. He needs an elite left handed partner (which the Canucks don’t have) and to play against poor competition to have a slim hope of treading water possession wise. Those two things don’t blend together on any team in the NHL. You trade Gudbranson and take whatever you can get for him.

You trade Vanek for assets as well, it’s a no brainer. Last season, Alex Burrows had nine goals and eleven assists at the time fetched Jonathan Dahlen! Desperation makes GM’s do regrettable things! Take advantage of that and stock the cupboard with even more picks and prospects who possess hockey sense, speed, and skill.

Build through the draft!

Trade them both. Vanek seems like he’s wise to the trade me now and ill sign back in the summer thing. The Canucks need picks and Vanek is the best road to getting them. He did what they signed him to do, no hard feelings.

Erik Gudbranson should never have been re-signed in the first place, but hey, what do I know? There hopefully will be a sucker GM willing to take a chance on him. This shouldn’t even be an issue. He’s just plain not good at all.