The Vancouver Canucks are off to an incredible start.
With a 9–2–1 record through 12 games this season, the Canucks are currently challenging defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division. It’s largely uncharted territory for a Canucks team that has qualified for the playoffs once since 2015.
Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek have been stalwarts on defence for this Canucks team, but TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Tuesday’s segment of Insider Trading that Vancouver remains in pursuit of another right-handed defender to add to its ranks.
INSIDER TRADING with @DarrenDreger, @PierreVLeBrun & @reporterchris…
– Campbell waived; what other questions are arising with Oilers?
– Canucks’ search for right shot D
– Struggling Sharks not veering from plan
– Canes juggling goalie situation
WATCH: https://t.co/iNOi62aToC
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) November 7, 2023
Here’s the transcript of Dreger’s comments on Tuesday:
Gino Reda: Guys, while Edmonton struggles near the league’s basement, Vancouver is challenging among the league’s elite. Darren, the Canucks are in talks about bolstering their blue line right now?
Darren Dreger: Yeah, they have been for a while, Geno. They’re looking for a right-shot defenceman. Pretty much most of the playoff-contending teams would be in that category. All teams think that their defence corps needs to be upgraded. The problem the Vancouver Canucks have, they don’t have the cap space, and the teams that they’re talking to aren’t interested in a player. Now, Vancouver would like to use their depth on the wing, that’s why we’ve heard about Anthony Beauvillier, that’s why Conor Garland’s name has more or less been out there, but because of the great start in Vancouver, I think that Garland is less motivated to move from the Vancouver Canucks, so it’s wait and see in Vancouver for now.
The most obvious candidate for the Canucks to move in a cap-equalizing trade is Tyler Myers, who is in the final year of his contract at a $6 million cap hit. But Myers has a modified no-trade clause and is, himself, a member of the Canucks’ RHD hierarchy.
It remains to be seen if and when the Canucks will pull the trigger on any move — Chris Tanev, anyone? — but for now, they’re chugging along with one of the best records in the Western Conference. They’ll return to action on Thursday afternoon to take on the Ottawa Senators at 4:00 p.m. PT.
