Photo Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

The Vancouver Canucks and the San Jose Sharks appear to be getting close to a trade that would send veteran defender Kevin Bieksa to Northern California. 

Bieksa has agreed to waive his no-trade clause, according to a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, which would indicate that these trade talks have matured significantly in the 12 hours since the Sharks’ interest was first reported. 

The long-time Canucks defender has been a valuable contributor over the years, although he began to incur some diminishing returns with age, particularly on the defensive side of the puck. Bieksa, 34, remains a useful contributor, an intimidating physical presence, and a decent puck mover though.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie is reporting that five teams were interested in landing Bieksa, but that there are only really two teams that Bieksa strongly considered permitting a trade too. As we’ve seen time and time again, no-trade clauses serve to make potential transactions significantly more complicated, as they add a third dimensional to trade talks. 

If this was a pure auction situation for example, with five bidders involved, Bieksa’s trade value would conceivably have been significant. Instead the Canucks are targeting prospects and picks in a deal, according to Bob McKenzie. Oh and that sweet, sweet salary cap space.

Don’t underestimate the value of that potential space. It would give the Canucks close to $10 million in wiggle room under the upper-limit, based on the data found at NHLNumbers.com, and that’s with only about six players left to sign to fill out the roster (many of whom, like Sven Baertschi, Adam Clendening, and perhaps Frank Corrado, will be on cheap restricted deals). 

So in addition to perhaps recouping a pick – think more in the area of the 39th overall pick, as opposed to the ninth overall selection – and maybe even adding a prospect, the Canucks could be legitimate players for the likes of Christian Ehrhoff or Cody Franson in free agency. Or they could take salary back in a trade with a cash strapped team looking to move a piece.