While much of the attention in Vancouver Canucks land has been focused primarily on trade rumours ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline on March 6th, there is another story to keep a close eye on.

Who will be the Canucks’ next captain?

And more specifically, will it be Filip Hronek? Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford certainly made it seem like a possibility.

“He’s been our best player this year,” Rutherford said on an appearance on 100% Hockey. “He’s a number one defenceman, he’s a heart and soul guy, and as bad a year as the Canucks have had, Filip Hronek has been extremely good. He’s been terrific this year.”

As for the question of if Hronek could be the Canucks’ next captain:

“We haven’t got to that point yet, that will be a discussion in the summer, but in my opinion, he would be on that very short list for sure. He has all the qualities to be a very good captain. What you see on the ice is what you see off the ice, he’s a leader.”

Despite the Canucks’ posture and rumoured intentions suggesting that they’re willing to trade just about anyone from their current roster, Hronek hasn’t found himself in trade rumours much, even though he might just be the club’s most valuable trade chip. That’s mostly because his agent, Allan Walsh, went on his podcast last month and said any talk of the Canucks trading his client is “wasted air.”

“Talking about Filip Hronek being traded is wasted air,” Walsh said at the time. “I’m not going to divulge directly my conversations with management. But let’s just say there is an understanding that Filip Hronek is going to be part of the solution going forward in Vancouver and not someone that they are going to be looking to move.”

Could those conversations Walsh is having with management include them sharing their intentions of naming his client their next captain? We’ll have to wait and see.