^{Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire – USA TODAY Sports}

As Canucks fans paid close attention to the media throughout the week, a deal occurred that sent one of the Canucks’ most looked-at players, Alex Burrows, to Ottawa. With today being the last full day before the trade deadline, all eyes were on Ryan Miller and Jannik Hansen. Nothing happened as the day went on, which left us expecting that any potential trade would be made early tomorrow morning. That is until this happened:

What exactly does this mean? Nobody knows for sure. It could be for precautionary reasons, or it could be as a result of a completed trade that has yet to be announced. Hansen was expected to play today, which left some fans wondering why the Canucks were risking an injury that could occur. 

As curious as it is, it certainly does not mean that Hansen has been traded. I’m just speculating here, but I think he’s scratched for precautionary reasons. Hansen is the Canucks’ most valuable asset right now, and an injury (of re-aggrivation of his knee injury) could easily through any deal off the table.

Borna Rendulic has replaced Jannik Hansen’s void for tonight’s game.

Something might just be in the works here… but any announcement would likely come after the game. Earlier today, Iain MacIntyre reported that a majority of the team’s on Hansen’s trade list were western-based. Matt Sekeres also reported that an Eastern Conference team had called, only to be told that they were not on the list.

The empty box could in fact be a sign that there a deal is close. Linden and Benning would obviously need to run through the details with Hansen, who would most likely need to run it by his family.

Perhaps some rehabilitation for his knee? Hansen has been wearing a knee brace during practices. He could also be making up for the cardio he’s missing by being a healthy scratch.

Hansen is working out. Every can breathe. I’m going to assume Benning and Linden are absent from their box because they’re still working the phones. I think it’s alright for them to skip out on one game if it’s the night before the trade deadline.

Benning and Linden are currently engaged in discussions.

I’m a little late on this one but at least it’s something. I wonder what they’re closed to…

I tweeted Black Price but to no avail. My guess is they’re still absent.

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Benning did good everyone. Benning did good.